If you’re struggling with how to overcome procrastination and laziness, this is the right blog post for you.
We all have that feeling of knowing when to do something or getting a work done but, somehow we seem unable to get ourselves to do it.
Hence, we while away all the time we have and wait till the very last minute.
A lot of us struggle with being consistent in the little and big actions that make us a better person.
Like the common saying; “procrastination is the biggest thief of time” and if you want to be realistic; you’ll agree that procrastination indeed makes you slow down on your achievements and dreams.
Procrastination will not only steal your time and constantly make you feel like a loser but it may give you a negative image of how you see yourself.
However, overcoming laziness and procrastination will help you achieve your goals in a fast while, make your life more organized, and put you in order.
There are two types of procrastination: acute and chronic procrastination.
Acute procrastination happens from time to time which is absolutely normal because you may be low on energy or trying to take a break after working for a long while.
On the other hand, chronic procrastination is when you constantly procrastinate even when you have a task that clearly needs your attention. This could be caused due to laziness, unhealthy lifestyle, or lack of passion.
Four Keypoint To Overcoming Procrastination And Laziness
To overcome laziness and procrastination you’ll need to take these four steps;
- Improving your mindset; By improving your mindset, you’ve built a landmark to achieve success, you’ve stuck it to your heart too and nothing will ever stop you from attaining it.
- Take action; In overcoming laziness and procrastination, there are certain actions that you must take. Mind you, these actions would most likely pull you out of your comfort zone and make you do the impossible.
- Energizing yourself; Breaking free from laziness will make you stretch your physical body. I mean, you can’t be in bed all day, so get ready to energize your soul and body.
- Staying motivated; Motivation is a big deal when it comes to overcoming laziness, you’ll need to consistently keep the energy going at all times.
Now, let’s see how you can achieve all of these with these practical and easy steps.
Ways To Overcome Laziness And Procrastination
1. Identify the Root Cause
Seek to know your triggers by identifying why you’ve been lazy and the things you procrastinate about. After this, take time to reflect on your triggers.
Are you overwhelmed, bored, or afraid of failure?
Once you identify your barriers address them directly. For example, if you’re overwhelmed, break tasks into smaller steps.
One of the ways to overcome this unhealthy habit is not to live in denial, rather identify your triggers and why you are being lazy.
Every time you feel lazy and the urge to procrastinate ask yourself why you’re not feeling motivated.
2. Set Clear and Achievable Goals
Another way to overcome laziness and procrastination is to have specific goals in mind that you want to achieve.
Running with a goal and vision will definitely help you overcome laziness.
This is because; you know that your achievement and success are dependent on the level by which you can put extra effort into what you do.
For instance, if you want to achieve a certain level in your career set a goal for it and constantly remind yourself that the longer you procrastinate the longer it takes you to achieve success.
Define what you want to achieve with clear, specific, and attainable goals.
Also, try breaking your larger goals into smaller and manageable tasks to make them less daunting.
3. Manage Your Energy And Not Your Time
If you’re starting out breaking free from procrastination and laziness then you should not only consider time management but also consider your energy level as well.
Irrespective of how disciplined you are, there will be days when you feel little or no motivation to get a task done.
All you need to do is push yourself in your high moments and get the tasks done.
And on the days when you feel low, tell yourself that it is absolutely normal to feel that way,
Nevertheless, this shouldn’t be an excuse to remain low on energy so try engaging in fun activity and rest your brain so you can get the energy you need back.
4. Create A Structured Plan By Developing A Routine
A lot of us struggle with procrastination because we don’t put so much structure in our lives and daily routines.
Start by planning your day with a detailed schedule, allocating specific time for each task.
Prioritize tasks and focus on the most important and urgent tasks first, using tools like the Eisenhower Matrix.
Also, understand that consistency is key and, with this purpose, establish a daily routine to create a sense of discipline and structure.
If you’re a morning person then utilize that period to achieve the tasks that you want to during that period.
Take advantage of the early hours when your energy levels are high to tackle important tasks.
5. Eliminate Distractions
For some of us, our distractions could be social media so to avoid this, turn off notifications, limit social media usage, and create a distraction-free workspace.
Also, being in an organized space can as well aid your level of productivity and eliminate distraction.
Keep your workspace tidy and organized to promote concentration. If you need to let go of unproductive habits, patterns, friends or activities kindly do so as well.
6. Break the Perfectionism Trap
If you want to overcome laziness and procrastination you must break the perfectionism trap.
A lot of us want to achieve that level of perfectionism and whenever it seems like we aren’t anywhere close to it we’ll rather retire than push hard.
First of all, get rid of the notion that you have to be perfect at all times.
So, rather than always focusing on perfectionism, embrace imperfection and focus on making progress.
Always aim for continuous improvement rather than flawless execution.
7. Seek Support And Be Part Of A Positive Community
When you are in the midst of like-minded people or people who effortlessly do the things that you desire, you might get motivated to break the barrier of procrastination and get right to work.
Join groups or communities with similar goals for mutual support and encouragement that you need.
Also, Seek advice from mentors, coaches, or therapists to gain insights and strategies.
8. Have An Identity Shift
If you’ve come to the conclusion that you’re truly a lazy person and procrastinator then the best solution is to change that perception about yourself.
Dealing with being un-productive will require that you see yourself like someone who is up to the task.
In detail, this means programming your mind so that you’re ultra-productive.
See yourself as the person you intend to be if you’re not being lazy and procrastinating.
Apart from this, make use of positive affirmations so instead of using words like, “I’m so lazy and I don’t think I can achieve this”, replace them with words like I can do this and I will make progress even while at it.
Visualize your new identity about being a productive person and having all the potential you need to become a person of value.
In addition, support your new identity by always engaging in small and productive activities. Do an identity and mindset shift then get straight into action.
9. Improve Your Lifestyle To Have More Energy
If you’re always low on energy then it’s very normal to find yourself lazing around or procrastinating.
Improving your lifestyle by engaging in activities that make you active will help you always feel energized to complete your task at the right time.
Here are a few things you can do to increase your energy level
- Always eat healthy food with a lot of vegetables and low-sugar
- Get enough quality sleep
- Have few meals throughout the day so as to keep your insulin levels steady
- Avoid junk or unhealthy snakes
- Get used to taking the basic supplement
- Exercise a few times per week
- Drink enough water
- Break free from any addiction if you have one because it might be destroying your spirit and body.
Engaging in all of these activities will definitely keep you high on energy at all times.
10. Hold Yourself Accountable and Celebrate Your Little Wins
Make yourself your first accountability partner. Be intentional about your growth and success more than anyone else.
Having this in mind will always be your motivation to get things done at the right time.
Share your goals with friends, family, or colleagues to create accountability.
And you can also try using journals, apps, or planners to track your progress and stay on course.
Also, celebrate and give yourself a tap at the back whenever you achieve your little and big goals or complete a task.
Wrapping up
Discovering the type of procrastination that you have is the first step of overcoming it and now that you’ve done so, make use of the aforementioned tools to help you deal with laziness and procrastination.
By understanding the root causes, setting clear goals, and using effective time management techniques, you can overcome these habits and boost your productivity.
Implement these strategies and watch as you achieve more than you ever thought possible.
Tell yourself that you can overcome that habit of laziness and procrastination and remember to stay motivated, hold yourself accountable, and seek support when needed.
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