We all know procrastination sucks, but most of us do it anyway. Here are some actionable tips to get over it and back to work:
1. The Maker Routine: Start your day by making something.
What’s the first thing you do when you get up? Most of us have morning routine that involves reading emails, checking in with co-workers, and, inevitably, reading (or watching) some form of news or social media. By the time you’ve resurfaced it’s 10 am, you’re groggy and dragging your feet, and you have nothing to show for yourself. That’s a terrible feeling, and it will stick with you throughout the day.
Kick this habit! When you sit down at your computer in the morning, open up your code base, your mockup, the blog post you were writing, or the PSD you’re working on before anything else. Then read it over, think about what’s missing or needs work, and try to do something, anything, even if it’s a tiny change.
Feel free to open your email at some point after that (to make sure that the world hasn’t ended), but chances are you won’t feel that same pull to troll Twitter for an hour, or read every last comment on Hacker News. Find joy in making things.
2. Hemingway’s Advice: End your work day when you’re still feeling good.
Procrastination happens when you don’t know where to start. Being in a maker routine is a great way to kick the procrastination habit, but it doesn’t solve the problem that hard tasks are hard.
There’s not a lot you can do about that, but a good way to ease the pain is to make sure you never have to start with one. Ernest Hemingway gives this advice about how to avoid writer’s block, and it applies to other creative fields as well:
“The best way is always to stop when you are going good and when you know what will happen next. If you do that every day… you will never be stuck.”
— Ernest Hemingway
Try following Hemingway’s advice by always leaving an easy task for tomorrow morning. That way you’ll be eager to get down to work and knock something off your list first thing. Save the hard tasks for later — once you’re already going strong.
3. Talk about it. Don’t wallow in isolation.
So you’re stuck. You’ve tried everything: fumed, cried, and put your head down on your desk in exasperation. Before you know it you’re reaching for your phone to play Candy Crush Saga. Don’t. Instead, talk to someone.
Google for answers if you’ve got a bug. Ask your coworkers or your friends for advice. Even if they have no idea what you’re saying, being able to talk through it might trigger a solution. Everyone knows that feeling when you’re trying to explain something, trying to ask for help, and then BAM, it hits you! That’s what we’re looking for here.
4. Just do something. Do the tiniest, most insignificant thing, as long as it gets the project open.
Big, open ended tasks can be show stoppers for productivity. It’s unbelievably frustrating when your task is something like:
- “Make this page look less wonky.”
- “Optimize the site for mobile.”
- “Design our company’s logo.”
- “Rewrite the copy on the landing page.”
- “The server keeps crashing. Fix it.”
- “Implement feature X.”
These are not bite-sized tasks. They’re monster tasks. Some of these could take days or weeks to finish, and if all your to-do list says is “make the website,” it’s no wonder you’re kicking around on Facebook or reorganizing your music collection for the 53rd time.
Start small. Does the site need a button? Add one. Can you make the header font size a bit smaller on mobile? Fix it. Can you reproduce the bug? Try it. Make sure you have your project open, whether it’s a site, and app, or a document. Make sure you’re looking at it. If you’re really stuck, go back to #3 and talk about it. Find someone who can listen, even if it’s just an online forum or your 8 year old nephew.
5. Feel good. Eat healthy, exercise, and get a good night’s sleep.
People are bad at sleeping. A poll from 2011 found that 43% of Americans rarely or never get a good night’s sleep on weekdays. There are so many simple things you can do to get one. The same article gives a list of ways to improve your sleep from the National Sleep Foundation — definitely worth checking out if you don’t feel well rested.
If you’re antsy during the day, take a break to exercise. Whether it’s just some stretches and pushups on the floor, a jog around the block, or a mid-day trip to the gym, the goal is to give your mind a break, and loosen up. Figure out just how much exercise makes you feel refreshed and ready to work, without tuckering you out, and go do it.
Eat a solid breakfast that can carry you through the day. Check labels for excess sugar so you don’t crash and burn before lunch. Try oatmeal, meat, bananas or breads, and keep trying out different foods until you find something easy and filling that you can add to your routine.
The first step towards beating procrastination is wanting to conquer it. Here’s hoping that something in this list will help!
We’re always on the lookout for more ways to enjoy life and keep procrastination at bay. How do you kick your procrastination habits?
