3 ways to beat procrastination

Change the scenery

When you’re procrastinating it often means you are not changing, meaning you need a spark or something to jump-start your productivity. Get up and get moving and chances are you’ll get the necessary motivation. Move to a different workspace, take a walk, or simply change what it is you’re working on and chances are you’ll feel refreshed and ready to tackle the tasks you’ve been avoiding.

Remove distractions

When we know we have a deadline looming and we don’t want to face it, we will find things to distract us from our priorities. Whether it’s watching television, going shopping, chatting instead of working, or playing on our cellphones, there are countless things to distract us both at home and in the office. Recognize what it is you are doing instead of managing responsibilities and remove them (temporarily) from your schedule. Devote certain periods of time in the day for these extraneous things, say in the evening after dinner, and stay focused on the important work.

Reward yourself

When you complete a task, even a small one, give yourself a pat on the back. If you’re too hard on yourself you will get stressed and will feel less motivated. Celebrating even the smallest achievements can help keep you on track and put you in a frame of mind to continue the positive streak.