Identify the cause of your procrastination.
Getting to the root of why you put certain things off can help you come up with solutions. Observe the moments you tend to procrastinate the most and ask yourself if your procrastination is caused by the nature of the task at hand or by other factors. Is your tendency to procrastinate triggered by your lack of interest in a task? Or by a task you deem to be very difficult? Sometimes, the cause can be internal. Low energy levels, anxiety and even perfectionism can also cause you to procrastinate by creating a fear within you that prevents you from getting started. Working on these things can help you solve your issue!
Break big tasks into smaller chunks
Procrastination can happen when a task is too large, vague and daunting. Breaking it down into smaller and more defined steps can make the task easier to approach. For example, instead of labelling your task “Science Revision” you can break it down into the chapters, or the number of pages you aim to cover. Another benefit of breaking down your task is that it helps you overcome the inertia of getting started. As you look through your task and see what it constitutes, you are mentally going through the process of tackling it which will make it easier for you to approach it when you start.
Set short-term deadlines
Even if your task comes with a deadline (from your teacher, for example), setting short-term deadlines for yourself to reach certain checkpoints within the task can help you ensure you meet the final deadline with ease. For example, if you have an essay due at the end of the week, there are various checkpoints you can set for yourself. A simple system would be to give yourself a certain number of words to write each day so that you reach the required word count. A more effective and “natural” way would be to set different checkpoints for yourself to brainstorm, outline, and write the essay. Don’t forget to include the start and end-point of a task in your deadlines!
Identify and eliminate distractions
Distractions may not be the core reason for procrastination but they definitely play a role in how long you procrastinate! Find the things that usually distract you and remove them from your environment. A common distraction is social media. It is tempting to take a 5 minute break to go on social media, but many of us end up falling down a rabbit hole and spending a much longer time on our social media break than intended and putting our task off for a very long time! To counter this, take breaks that don’t involve your distractions. Take a walk, have a snack or spend some time with a loved one!
Ask for help from others
There are many ways the people around you can help you beat procrastination. One way you can receive support is by getting your loved ones to hold you accountable. This is easiest if you and the person holding you accountable are able to contact each other frequently and stay in touch! People around you can also give you reminders and provide you with the motivation necessary to get started!