7 ways to finally overcome procrastination

If you’re battling procrastination you might have tried all of the conventional tactics and failed. Procrastination traps us in an endless cycle of distraction, endorphins seeking endless online scrolling, and our productivity and attention span dwindling with each and every passing moment. Been there, done that.

You might have tried everything, and failed, but worry not there will always be a new tactic or strategy to experiment with. In this article, we’ll go through some of the newest and unconventional paths aimed at freeing us from the clutches of procrastination.

1. Embrace the power of “structured procrastination”

This essay is a bit old, and I had to fish around the internet archives to find the original website. Nevertheless, philosopher John Perry introduces us to a seemingly paradoxical approach to productivity. Instead of fighting procrastination the “old way” by attacking it head-on, why don’t we try to embrace it strategically?

He states we should try to maintain a list of tasks, and by rating them from “most” to “least” pressing and important, we can harness the guilt of avoiding the most pressing task by completing the less critical ones. This strategy might help you leverage your procrastination by using it as a catalyst for productivity. At the end of the day, the difference between 0 and 100 is 100, and if the avoidance of one major task leads to the completion of three minor ones, I’d still consider it a success. When it

2. Embrace controlled chaos

Let things flow, instead of going insane and trying to plan every minute of your day and night, try to let some chaos in. Try setting time aside during the day for spontaneous creativity and exploration. Deviating from your plans is not the end of the world, give yourself the freedom to make mistakes, by keeping in mind that often great ideas emerge from the unexpected.

3. Harness the Pomodoro Technique

You may have heard of the Pomodoro Technique, a popular time-management method that has recently become particularly popular with students. The traditional Pomodoro Technique involves dividing your work into 25-minute chunks, separated by short breaks. After working and resting for four intervals, a longer break can be taken. It’s a technique that was invented in the 80s and aims to improve concentration and productivity by teaching you how to divide work into manageable chunks, increasing efficiency and focus.

4. Gamify your goals

You can try to make things easier by turning everything into a game, and assigning points and rewards to each of your goals and achievements. Find new ways to challenge yourself every day to beat your high scores and compete against a friend. With the right attitude, even the most boring tasks can become an opportunity to achieve your goals and beat procrastination. There are lots of apps for your phone that can help you do this – you’ll find a huge list of apps and websites at this link. They have over 500 apps listed, sorted by goal, for you to choose from.

By injecting your everyday life with elements of competition and reward, you can ignite a sense of purposeful momentum.

5. Cognitive flexibility training

Push yourself to grow and develop, overcoming procrastination should be a lifelong goal, not just focused on productivity and getting the job done. Try to engage in activities that promote and train cognitive flexibility, such as learning a new language or playing a new instrument.

By forcing your brain to adapt to new challenges, you can train yourself to switch between tasks more quickly and seamlessly, banishing procrastination in the process.

6. Engage in deliberate procrastination

Actively choosing to procrastinate may seem counterintuitive, but when done right, it can be a powerful tool in the quest for productivity. One famous procrastinator was Leonardo da Vinci, who let his masterpieces sit for months, allowing ideas to simmer and ferment before he acted on them. By choosing to actively procrastinate on less urgent tasks, you can refocus your attention on more important priorities and goals, while allowing your subconscious mind to incubate and come up with innovative solutions and new insights. In this way, you’re allowing yourself to make a conscious decision to optimize your productivity and allocate your time and energy where it naturally flows. In addition, this approach can help to reduce pressure, allow you to take a mental break, and prevent burnout.

7. Cultivate a zen-like mindfulness

Be influenced by the teachings of Zen philosophy and the concept of mindfulness by learning how to incorporate moments of stillness into your daily routine. At the same time, embrace imperfection as a way of achieving your goals, rather than something that stands between you and perfection. Procrastination is often a way of avoiding making decisions for fear of making mistakes, so allow yourself to be wrong and learn along the way. By freeing yourself from the pressure of perfection, you’ll free yourself to take bigger risks and do more.

Procrastination is not the end of the world, but it can create uncomfortable situations and consequences you may not want to deal with. If you dare to explore unconventional ways of overcoming procrastination and the fear of taking action, it can ultimately help you unlock your full potential and allow you to reduce stress and pressure. Embrace life’s chaos, play life’s game, and try to put yourself on the path of efficiency and commitment.