5 Tricks for Beating Procrastination

1 minute read
Ideas
Barker is the author of Barking Up The Wrong Tree

  • Make more specific plans. Just setting a date and a time when you’re going to do something makes you more likely to follow through. Or just write down the steps necessary to do the work.
  • Use short, painless dashes of effort. Just have at it for five minutes and feel free to watch the clock. Chances are you’ll realize it’s not so bad.
  • Forgive yourself when you do procrastinate. It will help you get productive. Hey, even procrastination researchers have a sense of humor about it.
  • No, you won’t do better work by procrastinating. And you will not have more time next week. In fact, leaving things unfinished makes you stupid.
  • Rewarding yourself for doing things you don’t want to do can be a powerful motivator.
  • This piece originally appeared on Barking Up the Wrong Tree.

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