One thing I know about myself— I’m a chronic procrastinator. The only time I’d really feel compelled to seriously do something is when the deadline is just around the corner, and then I’d frantically scramble to get things done. This, to say the least, is anxiety inducing, and I’m not a calm person to begin with.

According to Gretchen Rubin in Better than Before, she has observed 3 types of people in terms of starting and finishing projects— there’s the Marathoners, Sprinters, and Procrastinators.

Yes, as a procrastinator, I actually really hate doing things at the last minute, even though I do it all the time. There’s this constant, stubborn, nagging feeling in your brain that you’re supposed to be doing something, but still you don’t. And that itchy feeling steadily gets worse the closer you are to a deadline.

This is actually a well observed phenomenon called the “Zeigarnik effect”, and it’s one that nags at me all the time. Still, I procrastinate.

I have actually looked deep down as to why I do this, and when it comes down to it, I think it’s just how I am, it’s the cards I was dealt with. Nevertheless, push comes to shove, I’m still able to finish tasks. I have a master’s degree after all, I had to submit papers some time. 

And here are just some of the things I do to overcome my procrastination habits:

Morning Coffee

There’s something about coffee that energizes me into doing things. And if it takes this miracle drug to get you started, then by all means, have a cup. I make sure to just take one a day though, I don’t want to be reliant on it. Take enough to get you pepped up. I know some people who take it like water, and I think that’s going too far. 

Friction Reduction

The more friction there is to a task at hand, the less likely you are to do it. You know when they say to sleep with your gym clothes so you can go straight to running in the morning? It’s the same concept. That’s why I bought an Ipad, this way I don’t need to wait for my computer to load to write about something I’m thinking about. Just this small change has encouraged me to write more than I ever would.

Make Lists

There’s something satisfying about making lists and checking them off. When it comes to making lists, no task is too small. In fact, the more tasks you check off, the more momentum you get. You then feel encouraged to do more tasks.

I personally use Todoist and To Do depending on what task I want to write down. I prefer to use my phone to jot down tasks as it’s always with me. 

Break it Up

Make sure to break up big tasks into smaller tasks. I, for one, am sure that one of the reasons I procrastinate is because I feel a task is too big. I start to feel small— no way can I finish that task! But what you can do is break it up into smaller, more manageable bite sized pieces, and check it off your list, one small task at a time. And before you know it, you would have finished your big task.

The 2-Minute Rule

If there is something you can do in less than 2 minutes, do it. straight away to get it out of the way. It’s one of those rules that just makes sense to do so tasks don’t pile up and get too overwhelming. 

Accountability Buddy

I don’t know about you, but I get more done when I’m surrounded by people who are also doing things. When everyone’s busy, you don’t give in to that feeling of wanting to slack off because you don’t want to disturb your buddy. The occasional talking breaks doesn’t hurt either. 

Uninstall Social Media

This may be a bit drastic, but if you can’t stop yourself from mindlessly scrolling on your phone, then delete the temptation entirely. It’s best to take it out because you might get some withdrawal symptoms and try to open the app without really thinking about it.  

Go to a Cafe or Library

I know a lot of productive people who swear by this tactic. Personally, if I’m in my room, I get lured into my bed, and before you know it I’m sleeping the day away. There’s something about sitting outside your room that gets your mind motivated. It’s like it knows it has to work now. 

Darn It, Just Do It

If all else fails, there’s one more thing you could try, the “Darn it, just do it method”.  It’s exactly as it sounds, you force yourself to get up, and just do whatever it is that you need to do. 

Even if your procrastination is built in, it doesn’t mean you cannot overpower your programming. Just imagine how it would feel like to finish your project early, no more anxiety-inducing deadlines to think about, it will just be done.

You can use the pomodoro technique,or give yourself small rewards/breaks along the way. Anything to get you to finish the task.

You should know by now that nothing beats to “Just Do It” , that’s why Nike’s tagline got so famous.

Conclusion

And so there you have it, my personal bonafide ways to at least get the ball rolling. Do you have your own tips and tricks? Let me know in the comments. 

Just keep in mind that nothing beats the feeling of getting a job done, and actually, the harder the climb, the better it feels to have finished it. After which you can finally sit back, relax, and have that much deserved break without any of that bad feeling in your tummy. Give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done.