How to Stop Procrastinating and Get Things Done

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You sit down at your computer, ready to have a productive day.

Take that first sip of coffee, write down your daily to-dos, and time blocking your schedule for the day.

You go through your day, just to realize at the end that you realize you still didn’t do those big tasks you meant to.

You felt busy all day, but you actually didn’t cross everything off your list.

Can you relate to this scenario?

If so, you may struggle with procrastination.

Procrastinating can be a really tough roadblock to get through, especially if you are working from home. You may consciously or subconsciously procrastinate, and this can stop you from actually getting quality work done.

The good news is you can learn how to stop procrastinating and get things done—for good!

Here is how you can quit the habit of procrastination.

What is the cause of procrastination?

There are many different things that could be causing your procrastination.

In fact, the reason you procrastinate could change depending on the day or season of life you are in.

One common cause is perfectionism. You really want this project to be perfect, so maybe you keep putting off submitting it because you want to continue making revisions.

Going along with that, you may also have a fear of failure or disappointing others. You could want it to be perfect so you don’t let others (or yourself) down. These are very valid human responses, but they can hold you back from getting things done. The truth is we all make mistakes, and your best work is enough. 

Perhaps you just simply are dreading or trying to avoid the task at hand. There are probably some things you don’t enjoy doing in your work that you put off. Maybe that thing is sending emails or doing your taxes. If the task is not enjoyable, then no wonder you don’t want to do it! 

A final common cause of procrastination is simply that you are distracted. In a world where we are surrounded by phones, notifications, and constant contact with everyone around us, it’s not a surprise that we often feel distracted. These distractions could pull you away from what you actually need to do.

There are many other things that could be causing your procrastination.

The next time you feel yourself procrastinating, ask yourself why you are doing it. Are you bored? Is your mind unable to focus? Does the task just not align with you?

Once you know WHY you are procrastinating, you can work to break the habit.

Tips for stopping procrastination

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Eliminate distractions

If your attention span is short, try eliminating your distractions.

Turn your music and the television off, close out any unnecessary tabs, and place your cell phone in another room.

Create an environment that fosters productivity.

Build breaks into your day

If you try working for hours straight without any sort of break, you are bound to procrastinate.

Add some buffer time before and after meetings to recharge and add breaks to your schedule. Be sure to take a real lunch break, too.

If you struggle with setting these breaks up yourself, try working with the Pomodoro technique. This is a productivity and time management technique that separates your day into 25-minute intervals of work followed by 5-minute breaks. 

Do your most dreaded task first

Each day, there is probably going to be a task you don’t want to do.

Choose to do this task before any others. That way, you won’t have to procrastinate on it—it will already be done!

You’ll feel much lighter and more productive after getting this task out of the way.

Try a virtual coworking space

If you don’t work from a physical office, a virtual coworking space may be a great option for you.

Most of the time, you sit in a virtual room with your camera on or off and the microphone muted.

Having the accountability of others there, even if they’re strangers, will lower your chances of procrastinating.

Change up your work environment

If you work from the same place every day, you may simply need a change of scenery.

Try working from a local library or coffee shop in the middle of your week.

This change of environment may help spark your creativity and inspire your next great idea.

Especially if you’re surrounded by other people who are working, you probably are going to stay focused and on track.

Wear noise-canceling headphones

Noise-canceling headphones are amazing for productivity.

They help block out any distracting sounds, especially if you play soft music through them.

Some people even say they focus better with them on—even if they aren’t playing any music at all.

Wear your headphones as a signal that it’s time to get things done.

Set deadlines

Break large projects or tasks into smaller tasks and assign everything a deadline.

Doing this will help you feel less overwhelmed, thus making you less likely to procrastinate.

Setting deadlines, even if they aren’t the overall deadline, will make you feel a sense of urgency.

Urgency is a good thing when it comes to stopping procrastination! 

Reward yourself when tasks are finished

Every time you complete one of those smaller tasks within the timeframe you set for yourself, be sure to celebrate!

Reward yourself with a glass of wine, piece of chocolate, carryout from your favorite restaurant, or something else that you enjoy.

These small celebrations are crucial because the more you reward yourself, the more you’ll want to get things done and the less you’ll procrastinate.

Practice the 5-second rule

Mel Robbins developed something called the 5-second rule, which works wonders for procrastinators.

Whenever you have an instinct to get something done, count down from 5 and physically take action. If you don’t, your brain will kill the idea—which leads to more procrastination.

Try this whenever you just need to get something started.

Final Thoughts

Remember that the first step is to figure out why you procrastinate, and then you can start to adopt some of the tips above.

Just with any habit, procrastination is something you can quit doing with some practice and time.

Implement these tips into your own life so you can stop procrastinating and get things done!

What is your biggest reason for procrastinating? Let me know in the comments below!