The Ultimate Guide To Fighting Procrastination

1. Streamline email writing. Instead of taking time to compose long emails, try using quick bullet points. Just make sure you're getting your point across clearly. Read more about it here. Also, only check your email once an hour. Instead of jumping on every new email the minute it comes in, give yourself specific times to check your inbox. You'll be able to concentrate on other projects without interruption every time a new message comes in. Read more about it here. 

2. Take a short walk. Spending a few minutes outside will help you return to work more focused. In fact, it could boost your productivity by up to 20%. Read more about it here.

3. Eliminate interruptions. Set aside a few hours each day to work uninterrupted. That means no calls, no emails, and no chatting with coworkers. You'll get a lot more done once you let yourself become fully invested in a project without splitting your attention elsewhere. Read more about it here. 

4. Prioritize one thing each day. Tim Ferriss, author of "The Four-Hour Workweek," fights procrastination by making clear goals every morning. He suggests writing out the tasks that are causing you the most stress and asking, "If this were the only thing I accomplished today, would I be satisfied with my day?" to decide what should be your number one priority. Read more about it here. 

5. Treat yourself. Incentivize yourself to work by creating rewards for every goal you meet, even if it's as small as grabbing a snack once you've finished a project. Read more about it here. 

6. Break down large projects. Huge tasks can be overwhelming, causing you to keep putting them off. Instead, try breaking down big projects into smaller bits and tackling one thing at a time. Read more about it here.

7. Find your peak time of day. Figure out which point in the day you're most productive, and keep it distraction-free. Finding these "productivity pockets" will help you maximize your time. Read more about it here. 

8. Start a "done list." At the end of each day, write down what you've accomplished. It will help you realize how efficiently you're working and where you can improve. Read more about it here. 

9. Take short breaks. Try the Pomodoro technique, in which you work for 25 solid minutes followed by a three to five minute break to let your brain relax. Read more about it here.

10. Try the "under 1o-minutes rule." If a task can be completed in 10 minutes or less, take care of it right away and move on. You'll stop pushing off small tasks. Read more about it here. 

11. Draw a Venn diagram. GE CMO Beth Comstock uses Venn diagrams to decide where to get started on big projects. She draws three circles for what she has to do, what she loves to do, and what she hates to do, then begins with the overlap between what she has to get done and what she loves. Read more about it here. 

12. Get enough sleep. You're more likely to give in to distractions and waste valuable time if you're feeling fatigued. You'll have much more focus if you're well-rested. Read more about it here.

13. Stay warm. You're more likely to be productive in a warm office than a cold one, so don't hesitate to crank up the heat. Read more about it here. 

14. Be nice. If you're too hard on yourself, you'll push yourself deeper into procrastination. Stop beating yourself up about putting things off and just start. Read more about it here.

YOU GOT THIS!