Procrastination - the enemy of all productive people

Procrastination is the devil, the killer of time, the murderer of all our good intentions. It's the thing that leaves us with a gloriously tidy room/desk/office, but our to-do lists still intact. We all have that one project that we keep pushing back until manana, that sounds like a job for "future me"! If this is you, you're in luck. We're about to cure your procrastination habit FOREVER (although no refunds if your procrastination is too strong even for our tips).

What are the consequnces of procrastination?

• Gaining a bad reputation with coworkers, friends, and family.
• Losing your ambition to succeed.
• Not accomplishing your dreams.
• Threatening your well-being if it is a health-related task (like an annual checkup).

Why would you want these things to do happen?

DON'T:
- wait for the perfect time. It will never come.
- leave things until the last minute. You might think you work better under pressure, but that's when mistakes get made.
- put off that big project to get to that thing you've been "meaning to do for ages." If it's not on your list, don't distract yourself with that task.
- continually question a decision. Once you've made up your mind to go ahead, go ahead!

DO:
- make a smart to-do list by including only the items that you're avoiding, not the ones you know you'll do anyway. Then set yourself deadlines.
- break the task down so it doesn't seem so overwhelming. Accomplishing these small steps will feel good, and you'll have completed the project in no time.
- eliminate the temptation to do something else. If your weakness is the internet, keep your browser tabs limited to ONLY those necessary websites.
- conncetrate on one thing at a time. If your mind flutters to another task you just remembered, write it down, and come back to it later.
- ask for help if you need it.
- make your intentions public. This will not only add pressure, but how embarrassing will it be if everyone knows you failed to complete that task?
- remember that done is better than perfect.

NB some of these tips were utilized in the writing of this blog post.

What are your favourite tips for beating procrastination? Email us @office_fruit