Tips to stop procrastinating

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When we are working, one of the biggest challenges that many of us face is procrastination. We have all been there. We know we have a big task to go and need to get it done, but somehow we find ourselves doing something else that is totally unrelated and probably a lot less important. You know exactly what you should be doing, but somehow keep putting it off. No matter the industry you work in, whether it be teaching or strategic planning services, it is important to get things done. Here are some top tips for how to stop procrastinating and make the most of the tasks that you have to do.

Get organised
If you don't have a plan for what to do, you are much more likely to get distracted. Instead, set out exactly the steps you need to take and it will help you to achieve your goal. Write a list of everything that you need to do and put it in order of priority for when it needs to be completed by. If you have one big project then break it down into smaller, more manageable chunks. This will make the task seem a lot less daunting and easier to face.

Don’t let yourself get distracted
No matter how hard a worker you think you are, nobody can work their best when they are surrounded by distractions. In order to not let yourself procrastinate, get rid of anything around you that might tempt you not to work. For example, this could be your phone which is constantly pinging with notifications of messages and social media, your TV with shows on in the background, or even family members who might be at home if you are working from your home office. Try and find a quiet place where you can just get your head down and crack on with the task at hand.

Be sure to take breaks
If you don’t let yourself take breaks then you will soon get burnt out from the job that you are trying to do and get distracted. You will soon lose focus and won’t work as hard as you should. Let yourself have a break every couple of hours at least, where you get up, walk around and stretch your legs. A simple change of scenery can help to refresh your mind and make sure that you work through your task list a lot more efficiently.

Remember the main person you will let down is you
When you are putting off tasks that need to be done, it is important to remember that the main person you are letting down is you. While others might be relying on you, you will ultimately have to face the flack from not doing it correctly or submitting something in time. Remember this and how much easier and less stressed you will be if you complete the job you need to do, as soon as it comes in.

These are just a few top tips to help you to stop procrastinating.