When a person is bored or uninterested, certain tasks and projects can seem like torture! This feeling usually leads to procrastination, and procrastination often leads to guilt. Here are some practical ways to avoid these situations and overcome procrastination:
1. Recharge Daily
Be sure to get enough sleep and rest each day so that you have the necessary energy you need to accomplish your tasks.
2. Get a Friend Involved
It's harder to procrastinate when another person is involved. If you have a task you aren't looking forward to, invite a friend over to help you out. If you have errands to run, find a buddy who you can run errands with.
3. Reward Yourself
You're much more likely to complete that boring task if there is a dinner out or a new CD waiting for you when (and only when) the task is complete.
4. Do Things in Pieces
Procrastination often comes from feelings of overwhelm. Break tasks, even small ones, into steps so that they are manageable and provide you with a sense of direction.
5. Use Music
Turn on some fun and upbeat music and let it pump you up! 80s music and showtunes are often great pick-me-ups that will give you needed energy to tackle your tasks.
6. Don't Be Afraid to do 2 Things at Once
Don't be afraid to balance routine or monotonous tasks with something that is more likely to hold your interest. You can pay bills while you watch TV, or talk on the phone while cleaning up the house.
7. Delegate
Do you find yourself procrastinating on chores at home like cleaning and laundry? Or maybe paperwork at the office? Delegate them! Kids, cleaning people, laundry services, administrative assistants and more are all available to take some of those boring tasks off your list and free up your time for the stuff you'd rather be doing.
8. Prioritize
Perhaps you're procrastinating on a task because it's really not that important. Maybe you'd love to re-organize your book shelves, but never get around to it. If it sounds like a good idea but in the end it's really not that important to you, don't let it hang over your head.
9. Get in Touch with the End Result
Before you begin a task or project that has high procrastination potential, get in touch with the outcome. When the task is finished, what will that mean to you? What will be better in life as a result?
10. Just Do It!!
Don't think about it too much, just jump in and get it done!
© Copyright 2004
About The Author
Jennifer Koretsky is an ADD Management Coach who helps adults learn how to manage their ADD and move forward in life. She offers individual and group coaching, workshops, and skill-building programs. Her work has been featured in various media, including The New York Times Magazine and The London Times. Subscribe to Jennifer's free email newsletter, The ADD Management Guide, by visiting http://www.ADDmanagement.com/e-newsletter.htm.
addmanagement@addmanagement.com
Jules Vernes adventure story, Around the World in 80 Days,... Read More
A few years ago, I was with 20 of America's... Read More
Many of us are influenced by the sports ethic: Never... Read More
Often times we procrastinate because it just seems like so... Read More
The darkness of Winter has descended.For many the long stormy... Read More
The way you feel about yourself impacts how and why... Read More
Friends, it is always a power of your dreams and... Read More
How you respond to How are You reveals a great... Read More
Every week, I hear from people with the same Self... Read More
Lasting motivation is possible once you adopt an outlook that... Read More
"Making a lot out of a little"Ever noticed how some... Read More
I just finished dinner and the segment was about to... Read More
The answer is yes, of course, right? People motivate other... Read More
The Three D's of Action are Decide, Do and Distinguish.... Read More
'We cannot become what we need to be remaining what... Read More
In the philosophical teachings that form the base for our... Read More
I hope you do. Sounds awful, I know. But I... Read More
Are you feeling bored or restless? Do you need to... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
I worked hard for the past 17 years. I felt... Read More
Recently a person attended one of my goal setting seminars... Read More
I recently spoke to a group of sales professionals at... Read More
"You can't get anywhere in anything without work, action, movement..whatever... Read More
'Tis the season once again for parties, champagne, noisemakers...and of... Read More
All of the books that we will ever need to... Read More
One way to motivate yourself to work hard at anything... Read More
Looking for a summer project? How about working on who... Read More
Taking action about our current station in life involves taking... Read More
Beep. Beep. Beep. 5:51 am. The alarm is once again... Read More
Copyright © 2003 Priya Shah Is it... Read More
Review: Productivity Engineering- A hypnosis program to help you improve... Read More
IntroductionWordNet defines a rut as a groove or furrow (especially... Read More
Do you ever have the sense that there has to... Read More
Yesterday at the dinner table, my eleven-year-old daughter asked me,... Read More
The president of a large North Eastern company, doing business... Read More
One day when my friend Todd and I were having... Read More
Throughout the many pages of scores of motivational books, with... Read More
The story is told of two boys who were walking... Read More
If I knock at your door hold your hand take... Read More
Achieving the really big goals and dreams always involves breaking... Read More
It is often taken for granted that the reality tomorrow... Read More
I edited and re-edited my article. I had to make... Read More
Breaking the mold of being a child is difficult. The... Read More
Visualisation plays a very important role with the mind and... Read More
(excerpted from the Take Charge of Your Life 6 CD... Read More
If we want to fill our heads with the doom... Read More
"All the adversity I've had in my life, all my... Read More
The other day I was on my way home, and... Read More
Man, I love to procrastinate! And I'm pretty darn good... Read More
We are all guilty of wanting to change our circumstances,... Read More
As more tasks become automated due to advances in technology... Read More
Q. I've been working on a big project for a... Read More
Do you want to know your poverty graph? You are... Read More
Are you putting off your dreams until you have money?... Read More
I recently spoke to a group of sales professionals at... Read More
I hope you're having an AWESOME week!Let me first say... Read More
Cherish Enthusiasm Live with passion Excitement Belief Rejoice Attitude and... Read More
Can someone please tell me why it is that men... Read More
Many people don't really understand the gift they have been... Read More
Here's a bold statement:Change can be simple and easy.It really... Read More
Self Improvement Tip 4 Don't procrastinate! The more you put... Read More
Undoubtedly one of the most challenging tasks we can face... Read More
Want to hear about a simple & effective motivation technique?... Read More
Everyone wants success. People talk about setting goals and positive... Read More
As each day ends and another begins, the words of... Read More
As I am writing this article, the world is shaken... Read More
Motivation |