Stop Delaying Your Tasks: How to Beat Procrastination

Let’s start this blog by admitting I am a procrastinator. I often put off tasks until the last minute. Until then, I stress over the task I need or want to complete, knowing it's still pending.

When I finally get to it at the last minute, the task is done, but not as well as I know I could have done it. At that point, there’s no time for improvement. I just need to get it over with.

Once the task is finished, I’m left with one memory: it was stressful. That’s not the feeling I imagined when I first planned it. Back then, I was excited about the challenge and looked forward to the experience.

Sound relatable?

I’ve been battling procrastination for years and decided to share how I deal with it. Does this mean I’ve conquered it? Absolutely not. I still struggle daily, but I’ve found some ways to manage it and keep myself on track.

The worst part is, procrastination doesn’t just delay the tasks we don’t enjoy; it also holds us back from things we love to do. For me, it’s reading novels. I adore novels, and once I reach the fourth chapter, I’m hooked. But the problem isn’t just starting the novel, it’s getting through those first three chapters where I struggle to stay engaged.

Most of us do the same in different areas of life. We fill our mental to-do lists with exciting ideas, but when we glance at that growing list and realise we haven’t made progress, disappointment creeps in.

Breaking the Cycle

Procrastination isn’t easy to overcome, but here’s how I’ve been trying to manage it. While these tips won’t work overnight, they’re worth a shot.

1. Jot Down and Prioritise Your Tasks

Write Your Tasks: Create a list of all your tasks—both work-related and personal (e.g., hobbies or things you enjoy). I use Google Keep because it syncs across my devices.

Prioritise: Rank your tasks based on urgency. After urgent tasks, focus on those that bring you happiness when completed.

Balance Happiness and Urgency: While urgent tasks come first, completing them frees your mind to peacefully enjoy other tasks.

2. Plan and Take One Step at a Time

• Pick One Task: Start with your most urgent task. For example, if you want to start a YouTube channel, that might feel overwhelming at first.
• Break It Down:
  1. Decide the type of channel you want (e.g., entertainment, educational, vlogs).
  2. Brainstorm ideas and pick one.
  3. Record your first video.
  4. Edit it.
  5. Publish it.
• Focus Fully on One Step: If you’re deciding your channel type, don’t worry about editing or background music. Write down unrelated ideas that pop up so you can revisit them later.

3. Set Deadlines

As procrastinators, we often plan perfectly but fail to execute. Yet, we manage to complete assignments or office tasks on time. Why? Deadlines.

• Add Deadlines to Your To-Do List: Assign a specific date to each task.
• Make Yourself Accountable: Share your deadlines with someone, a friend, sibling, or parent who can hold you accountable. Eventually, you’ll learn to respect deadlines without external pressure.
  

4. Celebrate Small Wins

When you complete a task from your to-do list, take a moment to feel proud. Remind yourself that you chose to do it, and you did it! Celebrating small achievements can motivate you to keep going.

Final Thoughts

Enough reading, now it’s time for action! Go ahead and jot down your to-do list. Prioritise, set deadlines, and take that first step. You’ve got this!