5 Tricks for Beating Procrastination

1 minute read
man-playing-with-newtons-cradle
Getty Images
Ideas
By Eric Barker
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.

    Join over 150,000 readers. Get a free weekly update via email here.

    Related posts:

    How To Stop Being Lazy And Get More Done – 5 Expert Tips

    6 Things The Most Productive People Do Every Day

    New Harvard Research Reveals A Fun Way To Be More Successful

    More Must-Reads from TIME

    Contact us at letters@time.com

    TIME Ideas hosts the world's leading voices, providing commentary on events in news, society, and culture. We welcome outside contributions. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of TIME editors.