Since dreams require lots of time and energy (on top of your day gig, home, family and social responsibilities) it can be really easy to put off dream work for something a little more relaxing, like watching television, online shopping, reading a magazine, playing a video game, organizing your closet…you name it. Since I struggle with procrastination frequently, I thought I would share a few of my favorite, tired-and-true methods to stop procrastinating and get down to business. Please share your own tips below, and then go do something you’ve been putting off!
1.) Procrastinate after the work. I tell myself I can do my procrastination activity of choice (reading food blogs, watching Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, baking chocolate chip cookies) after I’ve done what I need to do. This way I get the work ticked off my to do list and I get a “reward” for doing it.
2.) Do my “time to work” routine. My signals that it’s time to work? I make hot tea, sit at the kitchen table, turn on Pandora.com, pop my headphones in and get going. The tea and late nineties hits are my signals it’s time to focus, and help my brain switch into work mode.
3.) Get out of the house. Transporting myself to a coffee shop or the library automatically eliminates distractions like the television. Bonus: I can stay disconnected from the wi-fi for maximum concentration. If I need total silence, the library is my free workplace of choice, if I want a little background noise and a caffeine buzz, I head to the local café.
4.) Enlist a friend. If I’m really struggling, I give myself permission to call a friend for a pep talk. Sometimes a little outside motivation is just the boost I need to sit down and focus.
5.) Just start. If I’ve been contemplating a certain project, or if a task has been weighing on me, I drop everything, sit down and do it. I don’t make tea, I don’t change into sweatpants, I don’t paint my nails beforehand. I just sit down and go.
What are your top tricks to stop procrastination?
Our Blog