Imagine that you have an extremely long list of things to accomplish. You know for a fact that if you don’t get started, you’re only going to postpone it until you’ll barely have any time for sleep.
The more you wait, the harder it becomes.. If this feeling is familiar, then you’ll be happy to know that you’re not alone.
We all have our share of days when we barely feel like doing anything. We may be feeling foggy or just really bored.
You have to understand that this is merely a fight with your own procrastination. Here are some useful tips that will help you “win the fight”:
1. Start with the hard stuff
Difficult tasks that either take long or need lots of effort may be daunting. Still, these are the tasks that you should first start with. Just think of it like this: if you’ve managed to slay the dragon, then everything else will seem like a piece of cake. You’ll be more motivated to get done with the easier stuff once you’re done with the difficult parts.
2. Exercise
Humans have evolved in a rapid time from active hunger-gatherer to sedentary office monkey. Lack of exercise can be very tiring, and that may be one reason why you don’t feel like doing anything. Sometimes, all you need is a good run to get your blood and brain chemicals flowing. Running or any other form of exercise can act like a strong, natural cup of coffee that the human body has been accustomed to since ancient times.
3. Concentrate
If you feel overwhelmed by the many things that you have to do, simply accept that you can’t get everything done in a day, and only focus on one thing. Preferably, it should be the most important task on your list. Just concentrate on that task and do everything that you can to finish it. You may find yourself finishing it faster than you thought, which might leave you time for another task.. and another.
4. Use natural supplements
Sometimes, all you need is just a buzz to get your day started. Some herbs such as Ashwagandha, Rhodiola or Ginseng can help you get refreshed, even when you feel very tired or foggy.
Couple that with a good run and all the laziness that you feel may completely disappear.
5. Take a break
Sometimes, it’s a good idea to just take a break and think about what you really like doing during that moment. It may be singing, drawing or simply watching a movie. Enjoy yourself while also aiming to get started on the tasks that need to be done once you’ve finished doing what you like.
6. Reward yourself
One study has shown that people more motivated to accomplish a task if they’re offered a reward upon completion. Thus, a good way to trick your mind into being more motivated is to give yourself a treat only after you’ve finished what you told yourself you would do.
Can you think of any other ways in which you can escape the dreaded procrastination trap?
Share your own tips in the comments below!