How to Stop Procrastinating

Procrastination is something that everyone suffers from, whether it is while writing, studying or just a general day job. Procrastination is when you do something instead of the task that you are meant to do. This “something” is not usually important and tends to be a way to waste time. However, there are ways to beat procrastination quickly.

Set Times to Browse for Fun

The first thing to do is set regular breaks from work or study. These breaks can be to do whatever you want, whether it is to step away from the computer for some time or to just check Facebook, Twitter and any other social media accounts that you have. This will give you the chance to do tasks that you would usually do during procrastination on a regular basis without feeling like you are meant to be doing something else.

I tend to set it so that after doing work for each client I will reward myself with a break. The length of time I give myself and the task that I do will depend on the length of time that I have spent on work for a client.

Set Regular Breaks

As well as giving yourself time to do stuff for fun, it is also important to take breaks regularly. For those who sit at the computer for work, it is important to get up and get away from the computer every 20 minutes or so; personally, I have a break every 30 minutes to give my eyes a rest. This does not need to be for long. Just a trip to the restroom or to make a cup of tea will do wonders! You will also feel refreshed and ready to get on with work.

You will need to set a lunch break and stick to that. Try to stay away from the desk on your lunch break too so that you actually feel like you have had some time away. I set an hour for my lunch and 30 minutes of that is always away from the computer so that I can eat in piece. If the sun is out, I will sit outside to eat my lunch; if not, then I will sit at the kitchen table. The other 30 minutes is often on the computer but I am usually chatting to friends abroad as this is the only time that we can talk due to time differences.

Make Deadlines to Stick To

I often find that if I have a deadline, I am more likely to get on with the work. There are times that clients will not set a specific deadline and just say “no rush”. I ensure that I set a deadline for this work; otherwise I know that I will just put it off for the next day and the day after that because I want to do something else.

Set deadlines that you know you will be able to stick to. Do not agree to too much at one go and consider the amount of hours that you want to work for and the amount of time that it will take you to write certain pieces. I know that usually it will take me about half an hour to write a 500 word article and proofread it. However, I can cut that time down to as little as 10 to 15 minutes if I am writing on a topic that I already know about since I will not have to do any research.

Avoid Pushing Yourself Too Much

This slightly links in with setting deadlines. When it comes to working for yourself or studying, you need to avoid doing too much. This includes spending too long at the computer to complete long assignments and agreeing to take on too much in a short space of time. All of this will put too much pressure on you and will lead to you looking for other things to do instead.

Set Regular Working Days

Working freelance will sometimes mean working strange hours and not the general 9-5 but it is important to set regular working days as much as possible. Make sure you give yourself at least one day off a week and only work the evenings and nights if you really have to. I refuse to work past 6pm now and will not work Sundays because I have learnt the hard way to not burn myself out. If there is an emergency with a client, I will sometimes work after 6pm but only if it will take a short amount of time; I like to be able to spend time with my partner and shortly a baby will take priority.

Because I am studying too, I generally take Saturdays and Sundays off (once I return to full-time work). This gives me the time to do my assessments and study for my degree, which I am doing through distance learning. However, there are times that I will work on a Saturday if a client really needs it; many understand that weekends are days to relax though.

Procrastinating will affect everyone at some point. I still find myself doing it even though I know the ways to stop it. The majority of the time I procrastinate because I am writing something that I do not enjoy or because I have spent too long at the computer. If you know the reasons, it is often much easier to avoid or to work on but following the above tips will also help you.