Hack Procrastination with These Easy Steps:
Most of the time, the reason why we procrastinate is that either we have a schedule that is too overambitious or barely minimalist. The stress of the former can lead you to avoid even beginning the tasks because the overwhelming list just never seems to check off. On the other hand, the emptiness of the latter can keep you away from unlocking your maximum potential. The only way to break through this is to correctly plan in a way where you’d meet optimum productivity and efficiency. Therefore, it’s important to have a personal timetable that works according to you and for you. Here are some tips that you can use to beat procrastination:
- Watch your Body Clock
”Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”
If this quote inspires you to attempt rewiring your brain into a new sleeping pattern then here’s a secret that no one is talking about; it is your genetic disposition that dominates your sleeping habits and no matter how many blaring alarms you put, your body’s circadian rhythm might not just be suited for it. Unlike how popular media might portray Benjamin Franklin’s formula of waking up at 4 am isn’t the only way to make it through your million-dollar dreams. It might come as a relief for you to know that some of the most successful people like Mark Zuckerberg have admitted to being a late risers. Hathway’s CEO Warren Buffet, whose net worth is more than $84 billion also likes sleeping in till late hours of the day. So, instead of blindly following someone’s success trail, it is essential to listen to your natural tune and follow it. Understand your productive and non-productive hours and delegate your work accordingly.
2. Know Your Tasks & Timing
Rather than keeping mental notes, free up some headspace by using an actual pen and paper to write down your tasks for the day. To begin with, you could also add the simplest of tasks like brushing your teeth to the list to track and schedule your time. Once you know all that has to be achieved in a day through your work and personal life, identify and mark your priorities. After observing your circadian cycle, you’d know enough about your productivity curve to match your tasks to the kind of energy you have at that point of the day. This is the key to success as we’re less innovative, have a greater difficulty making decisions, and are often quickly stressed and overwhelmed when our energy levels are low. Studies suggest that when our energy levels are high and we can enter a state of flow, we can be up to 500 percent more productive.
3. Regularly Review your Schedule
Lastly, it might be hard to get the right schedule at once. Don’t hesitate to do some trials and errors before you crack the right code. However, do not also allow yourself to be stringent about it. Be regular at reviewing your timetable every once a quarter. Backtrack where you have spent time and check for any dead time that was taking up space. As you evolve, it is natural for your energy rhythm and efficiency to differ, so be committed to rectifying and rearranging your tasks accordingly.
