Chronic procrastination 5 weird (but effective) ways you can conquer it

Chronic procrastination 5 weird (but effective) ways you can conquer itChronic procrastination 5 weird (but effective) ways you can conquer it5) The ComboHow to beat chronic procrastinationHeres a round up of current research on procrastination so we have a useful list to refer to whenwillpowergets low.1) Positive ProcrastinationYes, thats right,procrastination can be agoodthing.Dr. John Perry, author ofThe Art of Procrastination, explains a good method for leveraging your lazinessThe key to productivity, he argues in The Art of Procrastination, is to makemoracommitments - but to be methodical about it.At the top of your to-do list, put a couple of daunting, if not impossible, tasks that are vaguely important-sounding (but really arent) and seem to have deadlines (but really dont). Then, farther down the list, include some doable tasks that really matter.Doing behauptung tasks becomes a way of not doing the things higher up on the list,Dr. Perry writes.A similar tip is described by Piers Steel, author ofThe Procrastination EquationMy best trick is to play my projects off against each other, procrastinating on one by working on another.Dr. Steel says its based on sound principles of behavioral psychologyWe are willing to pursue any vile task as long as it allows us to avoid something worse.2) DashesA big parte of chronic procrastination isdread.The task seems overwhelming. And thats the first issue that needs attacking thosefeelings.Bybreaking the problem down into smaller chunks- even ones that require only1 minuteof activity - you prove to yourself the task isnt insurmountableadash, which is simplya short burst of focused activity during which you force yourself to do nothing but work on the procrastinated item for averyshort period of time- perhaps as little as just one minute.So this sounds good in theory but youre probably thinkingwhats that first step and wont that be horribly, horribly painful?For any procrastinated task, the first thing is to takeone minuteand justwrite down the steps you need to do to finish the taskJust a rough draft, at first, and thats it. Maybe just 3 steps. I then add more stepsNow, for some unknown reason, when there is nothing else to think about, and there is no way to screw this task up, because everything is laid out in front of me, I just start working on the task automatically.I might do just the first baby micro-step at first, but thats OK. It follows to the next, and to the next, and before I know it, the task is finished.3) Commitment DevicesYou know that rewards and punishments can be effective in building good behavior.This theory can still be the backbone of a very effective strategy - once you take that pesky you out of the equation.Give your friend $100. If you get the task done by 5PM, you get your $100 back. If it doesnt, you lose the $100.Or make it $200 that the friend doesnt keep - they donate it to the KKK or NAMBLA in your name.Get the picture? Thats a commitment device.The fruchtwe in important thing is thedefault position.You cant say I will give them $200 if I fail. No, you give the $200first.The default is they have your money.You want it back? Get the task done on time.4) Improve your moodYou procrastinate the most when youre in a bad mood and think you can improve it with something fun.When youre in a good mood or when you dont think you can improve how you feel, you screw around a lot less.ViaTemptation Finding Self-Control in an Age of ExcessSo procrastination is a mood-management technique, albeit (like eating or taking drugs) a shortsighted one. But were most prone to it when we think it will actually helpWell, far and away the most procrastination occurred among the bad-mood students who believed their mood could be changed and who had access to fun distractions. This group spent nearly 14 of their 15 minutes of prep time goofing offStudents who believed their bad mood was frozen (those who were not given a supposedly mood-lifting candle) spent less than 6 minutes goofing off. (Even the good-mood students procrastinated slightly more if they believed their mood could be altered.)If youre really going to be motivated, you need tofeelsomething. Having a rational goal in mind or thinking you want something just isnt enough.What moves you? What inspires you?Try that.Dont know what makes you feel better? Gohere.Because glib as it may sound, changing your mood can change your mind.5) The ComboSo heres the chronic procrastination knockout punch1)Manage your mood throughout the day.Do the little things that keep you positive. Get enough sleep. Eat regularly. Take breaks.2)Make your list of to-dos with the terrifying stuff at the top and the easier stuff at the bottom.3)Do a one minute dash andwrite out the steps needed to beat the first problem.This should help you get past the fear and start building momentum.If the dashes arent working, theyre not short and easy enough.4)Still too difficult? Use positive procrastination and do one of the things lower on this list, rather than 1.5)Establish your commitment device.Hand your friend that money, your most cherished possession orwhatever has the most painful downside you can think of. The default position must be that youre already screwed and need to un-screw yourself. If the commitment devices arent working, theyre not scary enough.After that, just loop 3-5.With enough practice, these become habit and thats the goal.The desire to procrastinate never completely vanishes. What matters is how you respond when you get that itch.Join over 315,000 readers.Get a free weekly update via emailhere.Related postsWhat 10 things should you do every day to improve your life?What good work habits do nearly all geniuses have in common?Checklist Are you doing these five things to be more effective at work?This column originally appeared at Barking Up the Wrong Tree.Chronic procrastination 5 weird (but effective) ways you can conquer it5) The ComboHow to beat chronic procrastinationH eres a round up of current research on procrastination so we have a useful list to refer to whenwillpowergets low.1) Positive ProcrastinationYes, thats right,procrastination can be agoodthing.Dr. John Perry, author ofThe Art of Procrastination, explains a good method for leveraging your lazinessThe key to productivity, he argues in The Art of Procrastination, is to makemorecommitments - but to be methodical about it.At the top of your to-do list, put a couple of daunting, if not impossible, tasks that are vaguely important-sounding (but really arent) and seem to have deadlines (but really dont). Then, farther down the list, include some doable tasks that really matter.Doing these tasks becomes a way of not doing the things higher up on the list,Dr. Perry writes.A similar tip is described by Piers Steel, author ofThe Procrastination EquationMy best trick is to play my projects off against each other, procrastinating on one by working on another.Dr. Steel says its based on sound prin ciples of behavioral psychologyWe are willing to pursue any vile task as long as it allows us to avoid something worse.2) DashesA big part of chronic procrastination isdread.The task seems overwhelming. And thats the first issue that needs attacking thosefeelings.Bybreaking the problem down into smaller chunks- even ones that require only1 minuteof activity - you prove to yourself the task isnt insurmountableadash, which is simplya short burst of focused activity during which you force yourself to do nothing but work on the procrastinated item for averyshort period of time- perhaps as little as just one minute.So this sounds good in theory but youre probably thinkingwhats that first step and wont that be horribly, horribly painful?For any procrastinated task, the first thing is to takeone minuteand justwrite down the steps you need to do to finish the taskJust a rough draft, at first, and thats it. Maybe just 3 steps. I then add more stepsNow, for some unknown reason, when there i s nothing else to think about, and there is no way to screw this task up, because everything is laid out in front of me, I just start working on the task automatically.I might do just the first baby micro-step at first, but thats OK. It follows to the next, and to the next, and before I know it, the task is finished.3) Commitment DevicesYou know that rewards and punishments can be effective in building good behavior.This theory can still be the backbone of a very effective strategy - once you take that pesky you out of the equation.Give your friend $100. If you get the task done by 5PM, you get your $100 back. If it doesnt, you lose the $100.Or make it $200 that the friend doesnt keep - they donate it to the KKK or NAMBLA in your name.Get the picture? Thats a commitment device.The most important thing is thedefault position.You cant say I will give them $200 if I fail. No, you give the $200first.The default is they have your money.You want it back? Get the task done on time.4) Imp rove your moodYou procrastinate the most when youre in a bad mood and think you can improve it with something fun.When youre in a good mood or when you dont think you can improve how you feel, you screw around a lot less.ViaTemptation Finding Self-Control in an Age of ExcessSo procrastination is a mood-management technique, albeit (like eating or taking drugs) a shortsighted one. But were most prone to it when we think it will actually helpWell, far and away the most procrastination occurred among the bad-mood students who believed their mood could be changed and who had access to fun distractions. This group spent nearly 14 of their 15 minutes of prep time goofing offStudents who believed their bad mood was frozen (those who were not given a supposedly mood-lifting candle) spent less than 6 minutes goofing off. (Even the good-mood students procrastinated slightly more if they believed their mood could be altered.)If youre really going to be motivated, you need tofeelsomething. Havi ng a rational goal in mind or thinking you want something just isnt enough.What moves you? What inspires you?Try that.Dont know what makes you feel better? Gohere.Because glib as it may sound, changing your mood can change your mind.5) The ComboSo heres the chronic procrastination knockout punch1)Manage your mood throughout the day.Do the little things that keep you positive. Get enough sleep. Eat regularly. Take breaks.2)Make your list of to-dos with the terrifying stuff at the top and the easier stuff at the bottom.3)Do a one minute dash andwrite out the steps needed to beat the first problem.This should help you get past the fear and start building momentum.If the dashes arent working, theyre not short and easy enough.4)Still too difficult? Use positive procrastination and do one of the things lower on this list, rather than 1.5)Establish your commitment device.Hand your friend that money, your most cherished possession orwhatever has the most painful downside you can think of. T he default position must be that youre already screwed and need to un-screw yourself. If the commitment devices arent working, theyre not scary enough.After that, just loop 3-5.With enough practice, these become habit and thats the goal.The desire to procrastinate never completely vanishes. What matters is how you respond when you get that itch.Join over 315,000 readers.Get a free weekly update via emailhere.Related postsWhat 10 things should you do every day to improve your life?What good work habits do nearly all geniuses have in common?Checklist Are you doing these five things to be more effective at work?This column originally appeared at Barking Up the Wrong Tree.