Six Ways Take Control of Time

Procrastination is the easiest thing in the world to do; that’s why so many of us are guilty of it. And some of the most procrastinated projects are cleaning and organizing. The reasons we procrastinate vary but generally breakdown to disorganization or dislike of the project. While we can’t make unpleasant tasks more pleasant, we can get organized and overcome procrastination. Here are some tips to help you stay on task.

  1. Focus on starting the project, not on finishing it. Visualizing the completed project can be overwhelming. And if a project feels overwhelming, you’re likely to ignore it. Instead, begin by breaking the project into chucks. This will allow you to complete the project a piece at a time, and will make even the most overwhelming project simple to tackle.
  2. Start anywhere. You can do the easiest step first, or the middle steps. It honestly doesn’t matter, what matters is you’re making forward progress. With a few steps completed, you’ll pick up momentum and start to get excited about the final outcome.
  3. Set a firm finish deadline and give each step a time limit. Sometimes we allow ourselves to procrastinate because we, foolishly, think we have time to waste. By giving each step a time limit, and sticking to it, you eliminate the illusion of spare time.
  4. Use the buddy system. Not all peer pressure is bad, so use it to your advantage. Ask your spouse, friend, or neighbor to check on your progress at the designated times. Having someone, other than yourself, to hold you accountable will help you stay focused.
  5. Don’t lose sight of your goal. It’s easy to get sidetracked or discouraged halfway through a project. But you’ve got to keep your eye on the prize and remember why you started in the first place.
  6. Reward yourself. Positive reinforcement works! Even when you know you’re bribing yourself. Now that you have successfully completed the project, treat yourself to something special. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive, just a little something for a job well done.

By following these simple steps you can squash procrastination and take control of your time.

Written by Asher Collins. Asher has since left Gateway Productivity to pursue his passion in ADHD coaching. You can find him here.