We all have a tendency to procrastinate on certain tasks or projects, and while it’s often healthy to take things a break every so often, it can become a problem over time. Procrastination diminishes your ability to work efficiently, which affects the quality of your accomplishments, and may cause you to lose out on important opportunities like promotions or rewards.
In this day and age, success begins by applying the right tips towards developing a proactive attitude. Here are the best ones:
1. Set up a priority list
This may seem like an obvious way to stay focused on your most important tasks, but coming up with a list of priorities does have a positive effect on you. For one, it helps you with time management and allows you to spend more energy on activities that need to be done. Other than that, to-do lists can help you divide a major project into manageable parts. This enables you to finish the project at a manageable pace, and prevents you from leaving it all until the last minute.
2. Use productivity and note-taking apps
There are a number of mobile apps you can choose from to manage your schedules and tasks. If you are not a fan of traditional note-taking using pen and paper, you can look along the lines of Evernote, Notion, and Google Keep to list down your priorities with just a few taps of your finger. These apps also come with notification features that allow you to schedule reminders for when you need to work on an urgent task. In addition, there are also countdown apps you can use to follow the Pomodoro method. If you want to work intensely at 20-minute intervals, these apps can automatically turn off the Wi-Fi and data connection of your phone until the countdown finishes.
3. Reduce distractions
Whether it’s finding a funny Facebook video or stealing a few minutes to watch an episode of your favorite show on Netflix, there’s a lot that can distract us from getting work done. To get around this, consider decluttering your desk and putting your phone on silent until the day is done. If you can’t seem to avoid distraction while you’re in front of your computer screen, consider blocking certain apps and websites. You can also install the best Mac email client so you can securely read emails without opening a browser.
4. Don’t strive for perfection
It’s important to set goals, but striving for perfection can actually prevent you from getting anything done in a timely fashion. Focusing on the details of a project instead of the bigger picture may be a major hindrance. If you have this mindset, then consider an evaluation of what perfection really means. Biding your time doesn’t make you any more productive if you keep delaying the result.
At the end of the day, procrastination won’t get you anywhere. Avoid distractions, focus on your goals, and take notes to stay on target so you can accomplish your goals.