7 Ways to Avoid Procrastinating (PHOTOS)

Today: Seven tips for avoiding procrastination.

Going to the gym. Practicing a new skill when you have no skill. Giving bad news. Dealing with tech support. We all have to make ourselves do things that we just don't want to do. Here are some tricks I've learned that help me power through the procrastination.

 

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If you're dreading doing something, you're going to be able to think of more creative excuses as the day goes along. One of my Twelve Personal Commandments is "Do it now." Without delay is the easiest way.

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If you're dreading doing something, you're going to be able to think of more creative excuses as the day goes along. One of my Twelve Personal Commandments is "Do it now." Without delay is the easiest way.

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What have I forgotten? What strategies do you use to stop procrastinating?

* Speaking of Twitter, I was thrilled to be included on Babble's list of 50 Best Twitter Moms. Follow me on Twitter, @gretchenrubin.

* If you read this blog, and are wondering, in a nice way, why anyone would bother to pay for the book The Happiness Project when there's so much material on the internet for free, you can check out a few sample chapters here. Reading the book really is very different from reading the blog. Here's why.

 

 

 

Follow Gretchen Rubin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/gretchenrubin

Comments

[jimt1199]

01:50 PM on 10/08/2010

I'll read it later.

[greezil428]

07:07 PM on 09/21/2010

Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted.

[wm1066]

04:34 PM on 09/17/2010

I started going to the gym in my 40's and I didn't stress myself with tough workouts. I wasn't all gung ho right away, I gave it time, and I found the workout I liked best. Now it is ingrained into my routine to get a workout every other day. If I would have went into it with great machismo I think I would have given up early on.

[GrowWithStacy]

04:33 PM on 09/16/2010

Those are all great points! The biggest thing is to just take action, like one of the points stated you don't have to do a hue project but at least take some steps. For people who get overwhelmed by a huge project breaking it down into easy steps can really make all the difference.

This month I've been taking on a few tasks that I've been procrastinating. It's going to take a while to complete but each time that I do something I'm making progress toward the final completion.

Since this topic has been on my mind I wrote a post on the topic with some different ideas on overcoming procrastination. http://growwithstacy.com/archives/780

[Toonguy]

12:02 PM on 09/16/2010

For those whose executive functions are impaired, procrastination is a very real problem, especially when you cannot explain why you're not doing something. In many cases, it's a problem of being unable to assign proper priority to the things you need to do. So you sit down with every intention of doing the task that's been dogging you - and do nothing.

However, one technique that I've found helpful that does not appear to be listed here is the OHIO method: Only Handle It Once. If something comes up, then try to do it right then and there. Or do not do it at all. Do not put it aside and hope that you'll remember to do it later - it will only plague you and make you miserable. If it's important and you just can't do it right away, then get someone to help you schedule it so you can do it when you have sufficient time to devote to it.

[supportamerica]

11:45 AM on 09/16/2010

Here is one for you, my daughter is a procrastinator at home but an extremely organized on the spot person at work. The only way she was organized at home is because I wouldn't let her procrastinate, but when she moved away from home and now has 4 children she has reverted to her procrastination and consequently her children are the same.

She is always rushed and never leaves time to do the things she knows needs to be done and complains about them not being done. I grant you keeping house with four children in it is not easy but why can't she transfer her work organizational skills to her home life? This really befuddles me. Does anyone have an answer? Is it maybe something chemical in the brain?

[Toonguy]

02:31 PM on 09/16/2010

Just as you were helping your daughter at home, the nature of her work may help her overcome her organizational difficulties. Without that "helper," she is left to struggling, uncertain as to which of the many different tasks she needs to do next. If her brain is unable to execute these functions like a regular person, then this is a problem she's had her entire life. It doesn't manifest itself simply as procrastination, there are issues with attention (lost in the clouds), working memory (getting "lost" in the middle of a mundane task), alertness and emotions (getting frustrated easily). Chances are, she might have been told by teachers that she wasn't applying herself or living up to her potential. I am no expert, but I have faced these problems myself. The difference between a person who is just disorganized and one who has problems with executive functions is that the latter does not understand and cannot seem to control what's going on inside their own head. It's not that they're crazy, just that they need some new tools to compensate for what they're missing. A neuro psychologist can help you make the proper diagnosis.

[supportamerica]

04:30 PM on 09/16/2010

She was an excellent student, top 1 % in school. Top 5% in college. Maybe it is the fact that at home the confusion of the kids or it is not as structured as work. When she does decide to do it she whizzes through the house in about 2 hours so I really don't think it is neurological. Otherwise I don't think she would be able to make the executive decisions that she does at work with thousands of dollars hanging in the balance.

I am not discounting your suggestion because she has an ADD brother so I understand but he is on the other hand is disorganized at work and often times picky about how things are done at home. They are both grown adult children and own a business together and do very well. Maybe their personalities off set one another at work but just does not translate to home some how when they are not together.

[Nelson Montana]

10:34 AM on 09/16/2010

I would think if someone were a procrastinator, they would ignore this advice -- because that's the very nature of procrastination. Personally, I never understood it. Why would anyone want to put something unpleasant off when getting it over with is more desirable? Even with things I enjoy -- writing, composing and exercising...I find more reward in its COMPLETION than the actual process. And the toughest part of completing a project is starting it. And the longer it's delayed, the tougher it gets.

Procrastination and a sense of immediacy are the same thing -- habit.

[Toonguy]

12:04 PM on 09/16/2010

See my note above - for some people, procrastination is unavoidable as they are lacking the executive functions in the brain to properly process the priorities needed to overcome procrastination.

[Nelson Montana]

04:15 PM on 09/16/2010

Start with one, then do another. Simple!

[Ice9]

02:46 PM on 09/17/2010

If you've ever had a dreaded project go away simply because there weren't sufficient justification or resources, you might understand procrastination better. It's very reinforcing to the notion that you can "wait something out".

[Nelson Montana]

04:03 PM on 09/17/2010

I understand it fine. If something can be waited out, it goes to the back of the priority list. But do what you need to do -- or not -- and suffer the consequences. Again -- simple.

[TheBlondeRaven]

10:07 AM on 09/16/2010

Not a bad reminder.

[LivewithFlair]

09:58 AM on 09/16/2010

I like number 8. I tell myself a whole story before I go to the gym. I say, "Woman, you will LOVE it after you get back. You will feel so awesome. You will be happy." Same with finishing work projects or making the bed. Right on! http://livewithflair.blogspot.com/

[Susan Orlins]

09:57 AM on 09/16/2010

Haha, like the previous person, who posted, I was thinking: Right now I am reading Huff Po instead of what I ought to be doing.

But I love these tips. Right away I am going to post on my blog (and maybe I should start to post every day, like you say!):
www.confessionsofaworrywart.com

[Lisbeth35]

09:19 AM on 09/16/2010

8) Stop reading the Huffington Post. :)

[alieninvader]

06:03 PM on 09/16/2010

You took the words right out of my keyboard.