Note: This article is by Samy Felice, who shares his experience with increasing productivity and overcoming procrastination and laziness.
To reduce guilt, you try to convince yourself that you need a break, and in the coming days, you will be more productive and committed, but deep down, you realize that you need to fundamentally change and eliminate the procrastination you always fall prey to.
I went through this experience personally, and I know exactly how you feel, and in this article:
5 Tips to break out of this vicious cycle and increase productivity
1. My story, avoiding procrastination by ruling out the possibility of choice
The least productive days for me were those when I had the option to postpone essential things, so I was working according to my mood and desire. For example, if I had a Tuesday delivery date, I would tell myself on Monday morning that I still had time and would start working later.
I quickly realized the consequences of this method because starting the day the wrong way would lead to unsatisfactory results at the end, and the biggest change was when I began to realize the importance of the first eight hours of the day and its role in determining the course of the rest of it.
2. I wished I was prioritizing
I was working without focus, doing what I thought while working, such as checking email and Facebook or distracting myself by working on more than one task to eliminate anxiety or boredom. Sometimes, I sit for long hours at work without any breaks. In short, I did not have a balance, so I was either distracted or mentally exhausted.
3. The thing I was missing
I lacked a tool to organize and write tasks so that I could differentiate between priorities and less important things and determine the right time to rest, and by following the principles of achievement of David Allen and using the Todoist app to organize various tasks, such as routine, work, communication, and so on.
The more something I had to do, the more I would put it on the list, so I would never forget it. This step was enough to clear my mind, and I would evaluate what I wanted to do with a better mindset. We may not feel comfortable initially because of our natural tendency to postpone uncomfortable or difficult things despite our knowledge of their core role in achieving personal growth and development.
However, collecting and reviewing all tasks helps to know and determine the most important ones, overcoming procrastination and laziness, and focusing on accomplishing them.
4. Start working on the most essential thing and use a timer to determine the time needed
Every morning, I started to write down 4 or 5 tasks I wanted to accomplish by the end of the day, and I devoted 2-to 4 hours to the first task or one project. I asked myself, what is the most challenging task for this day? As soon as I finished it, I felt effective and completed the rest of the day's tasks with excitement filling me.
“The hardest part of the big task is the beginning,” says motivational speaker Brian Tracy. “Once you start working, you will automatically feel motivated to follow through.” The enthusiasm for working after the early morning hours usually decreases, and I think this is the reason for the slow progress I was previously making, so it is better to stay away from laziness and do essential things in the morning, as this will give you a sense of happiness and satisfaction.
5. Using a timer increases productivity
The other change I made was to use the timer, set 60 minutes as the time for the end of the computer session, and take a break afterward. This method was sufficient to reduce mental distraction and multitasking, in addition to greatly improving the level of focus.
Quick recap, 5 tips to get rid of laziness once and for all
Tip 1
Make the first eight hours of the day the cornerstone for the rest of the day, and try to invest it to get the most important things done.
Tip 2
Get rid of the clutter of ideas by writing them all down on a smart tool, such as Todoist, or a paper notebook to evaluate things objectively.
Also, write 4-5 tasks you want to accomplish daily, either in the morning or the night before bed, but the most important thing is to determine the main task for each day.
Tip 3
Use a timer and set it to no more than 60 minutes so you don't get bored and look forward to the break you've set after completing a long task.
Tip 4
Avoid laziness by practicing helpful morning rituals and starting immediately afterward with the most challenging task you want to accomplish today.
Tip 5
Invest the holiday to plan the days of the week and set the main general goals for each day, for example, allocating Monday for research, Tuesday for writing, and so on.
Following this plan will certainly make your will stronger and increase your productivity. I mentioned in one of my books that I followed a plan with these terms:
- I have prepared a list of the best morning rituals that give you a sense of comfort and prepare you to work with enthusiasm and productivity.
- I developed a methodology that shows how to divide the day into four parts so you can choose the right time to entertain yourself without feeling guilty.
- I will show you how to celebrate and appreciate your small achievements so you will feel more creative and enthusiastic about your work.
You can learn more details about this methodology by reading this book.
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