We’ve all been guilty of procrastination at one time or another. Maybe you’ve put off a “difficult” task at work, only to find out weeks later that it was quite simple. Or only started studying for a new qualification on the night before the exam.
According to the Independent, around 95% of us procrastinate occasionally, while 20% admit to being chronic procrastinators.
Generally, it’s life admin tasks that we put off most often. “Adult” jobs can stir anxiety, and the longer we put them off, the more daunting they become. But there are ways to break this procrastination cycle.
Here are five of them.
1. Reduce distractions
The modern world is full of distractions. From the internet and social media to streaming services and… well, almost anything really. If you don’t want to complete a task, you might surprise yourself with the distractions you can find!
Life admin jobs like switching your bank account to a provider with better rates, digging out your pension paperwork or filing your tax return can be boring. They can also be anxiety-inducing.
Begin by reducing the distractions you have control over. Mute your phone and turn off notifications. Set time aside to complete your task and don’t let anything interrupt you.
Once you start putting off a life admin task, its perceived difficulty can grow exponentially. The easiest way to break this procrastination cycle is simply to get started, and limiting distractions is key.
2. Turn to tech… cautiously
Technology is a double-edged sword. Seen as a huge source of distraction, silencing as much electronic noise as possible makes sense. With our lives increasingly lived online, though, this isn’t easy.
Try a social media ban during certain hours of the day and block out this time for admin. Hide phone apps that are distracting and free up space on your desktop so it isn’t cluttered with possible diversions.
But tech can also be incredibly useful. You might use online portals to send automated responses immediately or download organisation apps that can help you plan a productive day.
Thanks to the internet, you’ll likely have the answers to many of life’s difficult questions at your fingertips.
But the internet can – and often will – lead you down time-sapping rabbit holes, too.
Embrace tech to make your life easier but do so with caution.
3. Believe in yourself
If you’ve been putting off the same life admin task for a long time, you might consider the reasons why.
The link between procrastination and fear of failure has been understood for a long time (it was reported by Psychology Today back in 2009).
You might be putting off exam revision because you worry it will prove too hard. Trying and failing might feel like a worse outcome than failing without trying at all, because at least the latter comes with an in-built excuse.
Your task might be something simpler like joining a gym or even catching up with friends. What if the gym class doesn’t lead to instant fitness or the weight loss you’d hoped for? Maybe you’ve left it too long and your friend will no longer want to speak to you.
The vicious cycle of procrastination and anxiety is a dangerous one. Thinking about why you’re delaying a task can help you to confront the issue head-on and gain perspective.
Is your worst-case scenario realistic? Even if it’s realistic, how likely is it?
4. Set realistic expectations
Fear of failure is especially likely if you’re a perfectionist at heart. If you have a definite picture of how a completed task should look, or the exact goal it should help you reach, anything that falls short can feel calamitous.
Help yourself to avoid these huge blows by setting realistic expectations to start with. Nobody’s perfect and every outcome can be improved upon if we search hard enough.
So remember, you can tackle chores without turning your house into a show home. And you can visit the gym and not leave looking like a bodybuilder.
By worrying about failure or falling short of perfection, you’re only adding fuel to the procrastination fire.
5. Small wins can prevent overwhelm
The key is to start small and don’t be afraid to congratulate yourself on the small wins.
If you have a large task to complete (whether it’s a huge ironing pile or a tax return), start by breaking the task up into manageable sections.
Starting can often be the hardest part, so begin by taking the ironing board out of the cupboard or completing page one of your self-assessment. Tell yourself you can stop at this point.
Once you’re done, you might find the ball’s rolling and you’re empowered to carry on. If not, congratulate yourself with a cup of tea and then set yourself another small goal for after your break.
Smaller tasks help to prevent anxiety and overwhelm. Small wins, meanwhile, mean you’re constantly ticking items off your to-do list, providing a huge psychological boost.
Don’t be afraid to treat yourself for a job well done, however small the job!
Get in touch
If you’ve got financial tasks that you’ve been putting off, remember that we’re on hand to help, so get in touch now. Please contact us by email at info@lloydosullivan.co.uk or call 020 8941 9779 to see how we can assist you.
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