How to Stop Procrastination: Seven Tips for Getting Things Done
January 29, 2008 · Written by Melissa Donovan
We writers are suckers for procrastination. Then again, who isn’t? There are so many distractions in this circus of a world, how can anyone resist all those temptations that are constantly luring us away from the things we should be doing?
Like writer’s block, procrastination prevents us from taking care of business. And just like writer’s block, procrastination can be beaten down, overcome, and brought to a dead halt.
The tips you are about to read are brought to you at the request of Rebecca of the Writers’ Round-About. She’s the one who started all this crazy talk about procrastination with her post, “WRA’s Seven Procrastination Busters.” That’s right, if you suddenly find yourself on task, you can blame it all on her! She tagged me for this challenge, and I have to admit — I’ve put it off long enough. So, without further ado, I give you seven tips to help put an end to your meandering ways.
1. Use Brute Force
Don’t you have any self-control? If not, get some, and make yourself do what has to be done. Yes, it’s that simple. The rest of these tips, and any other tips you read about beating procrastination are just fluff and nonsense. Tie yourself to your desk, superglue your fingers to the keyboard, use torture if you must. Force yourself and get it done.
2. Do The Shuffle
Make a decision to do what you have to do… eventually. By juggling your schedule just a little bit, you can bump the nasty task to later in the day, or later in the week, later in the year, or, you can…
3. Just Forget About It!
I mean really, is this something that you absolutely have to do? Let’s face it, sometimes we assign ourselves meaningless and unnecessary chores. If you’ve been putting it off for over a month and your life hasn’t fallen apart yet, maybe it doesn’t need doing.
4. Talk Yourself Into It
So let’s say it’s something you really do need to do. Like paying your bills. You can’t exactly postpone that indefinitely, unless you’re planning on declaring bankruptcy. Sit down and have a chat with yourself. Say to yourself, “Self, this really needs to get done, and here’s why…” You may end up having a big long argument. We all know how insistent Self can be, so make sure you really dig your heels in. If your Self is anything like mine, there will be plenty of sweet talk. Be prepared.
5. Get Someone Else to Do It
Now here’s one method that sounds extremely tantalizing, don’t you think? Say it with me: get someone else to do it. You don’t have to do everything all by yourself. A little assistance might be just the thing you need. Get out that little black book, dust it off, and call in the troops.
6. Treat Yourself Like the Child You Are
Not all of us can handle responsibility like mature adults. If all else fails, tempt yourself with a reward. Yes, just like you would do with a child, or an animal. Doesn’t a piece of chocolate cake sound mouth-watering? An hour on the Playstation? A professional massage… Well you can have all of these things and many more if you just… Finish. Your. Task.
7. Give Yourself Twenty Minutes
If you have to resort to this method, you’ve basically failed. However, failure can be temporary. Decide that no, you’re not going to do it right this minute, and do something else instead. But at least make it something beneficial. Work on another task, exercise, meditate, fold the laundry. Twenty minutes, tops! Then snap your bootstraps and do the damn thing!
Why are you still reading? Don’t you have something you’re supposed to be doing? No? Ah, well then, I have a task for you, and you can take as much time as you want. Yes, you’re tagged, so run along and write seven procrastination tips of your own. I dare you!
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*chuckles* Even if we weren’t busy we might be finding something to do to avoid the tag.
Thanks for a fantastic response, Melissa! I love your tips although I must admit number one, while the most challenging, is ultimately the only REAL way to do it.
Of course, a bit of chocolate cake as a tempter is good too. Alas, since I’m now the parent I’m all out of practice when it comes to earning what I want. When I want it I usually just have it. *blushes* I know, it’s a terrible habit.
After several hours (um, yeah alright, all day) of procrastination I finally got today’s blog entry written and posted. How’s that for accomplishment, it’s even on the day it is due instead of a day late for a change. Sometimes we really do just need some incentive and motivation. Now, if I could just check everything ELSE off my to do list.
I find that when I push a nasty task to later that it hovers over my other work like the buzzard in the old cartoon. The pall affects (I think I used it right) everything else with its negative energy.
Since doing NaNo and my weekly column I have gotten a lot better at sitting down and keyboarding instead of stewing that I don’t have the inspiration of all inspirations about this or that piece. So I’m am getting beyond executing and crafting each sentence as it comes and just ball-parking the data as a draft then reading a bit later. Usually reading that draft highlights what is inspiring or some things that are options at least.
Nice list, thanks for sharing.
Haha! Cute. Thanks for the to-the-point tips. I will go write my 7 for screenwriters.
@Rebecca, At first I wasn’t sure if I wanted to write this one. Of course, that because the only real tip is to just do it, but once I got going, I had a lot of fun with it. So thank you!
@Deb, Me too! When I put something off, it hangs over my head like a dark cloud, haunting me incessantly. That’s why it’s best to just do the thing and get it over with.
@Jaden, Thanks girly! I’ll be sure to check those out.
Numbers five and six caught my eye. I can tell you had fun with this, Melissa, and these are great tips! I’m so glad you decided to share your wisdom on how to stop procrastination.