Procrastination is a habit that most workers would like to get rid of this year. When important tasks are always put on hold, it can have a negative impact on one’s health and career, as the constant rush to finish up can end in anxiety, stress, and shoddy output.
Ideally, the most important and difficult task of the day should be dealt with first thing in the morning. But some workers prefer to hold off on doing so, choosing instead to wile away the time doing something else. But to be more productive in 2017, professionals must make an effort to curb this bad habit.
Here are some tips on how to stop procrastinating in 2017.
Make a to-do list and display it in a prominent place in your area
Upon arriving in the office, one must write a to-do list and display it prominently so that co-workers who pass by can see the list clearly. Having your to-do list displayed where everyone can see it has two advantages: you’ll be motivated to check off each task upon completion, and co-workers who insist on wasting your time with idle gossip will be deterred from doing so once they see your workload.
Don’t allow yourself to get distracted
Distraction comes in many forms. Unfortunately most people create these distractions for themselves. There are social media sites to check, blogs to read, online shopping sites to browse, or personal texts and calls to answer throughout the day. The key to dealing with these things is to take control and not allow yourself to be distracted from doing your job.
You can block certain sites on your computer and set aside a time for checking your social media accounts during your lunch break. You can also tell your family and friends not to call or text you at work, unless it’s an emergency.
Set up a timer and really work for a specified stretch of time
If you dread doing a task, resolve to work for a specific amount of time, say, for 20 minutes. Set up a timer to go off after the 20 minutes is done. When you’re focused on your work and you concentrate on beating your self-imposed deadline, you’ll find that you get engrossed and end up working longer, says stress-management specialist Debbie Mandel (via Real Simple).
Give yourself a reward after finishing a difficult task
The reward can be anything—a latte from your favorite coffee shop, a slice of cheese cake, some new pens from the office supplies store. Giving yourself a small reward will make you look forward to finishing any task, no matter how difficult or complicated it may be.
For more, check out Jobs & Hire’s report on the skills that every worker should have in 2017.
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