Dear reader, if you are here, you too have probably experienced that hateful feeling of having something to do but not being able to get started. Procrastination has unconscious causes and does not stop at simple laziness, but it’s not always easy to understand what it is that drives us to avoid our duty at all costs.
Whatever the reason, spending all day making excuses and avoiding that task makes you get to the evening so tired and full of guilt that, in extreme cases, you end up resenting yourself.
It happens to me all too often. So I had to equip myself with little tricks to help me actually do something with my time. In this article I will reveal them to you. I am sure you will find the perfect one for you.
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The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.
Sylvia Plath
Use classical music
We are constantly bombarded with information. By now our brain gets bored if we give it a moment of silence. If we need to stop procrastinating, we need to give our mind something to keep it intrigued. Music can be the perfect solution to this problem, I would especially recommend classical music. As it has no words and there is no risk of you getting distracted. (or writing some strange word on the text)
Don’t stay on the bed
The bed is made for sleeping. Yes I know, it is comfortable and especially in the winter, bed and blanket is a perfect pair. But (there is always a “but” with good things), our mind knows very well that that place is dedicated to relax. And if you want to do something less pleasant that requires more energy, it will row against you. Therefore, you have to find a place dedicated to ‘things to do’.
The best would be a desk but any table will do, the main thing is that it must be free of any distraction and must be dedicated to productivity.
No phone
Linked to the point above, throw your phone away. Not in the trash preferably, but definitely move it away from your location. It must not be in your field of vision and you must not be easily able to reach it. In this way you will temporarily forget about its existence and your concentration will be directed exactly where it is needed.
Put video game music in the background
Can’t concentrate? These types of ringtones are specially designed to prompt the listener to concentrate and keep his attention high. They are great for completing a task especially if it requires speed.
I recommend you make two playlists, one dedicated to calmer music, the kind you hear while travelling in a game. This one will be used for quieter tasks.
Now take some high intensity battle music and use it for tasks you absolutely must finish, it will help you feel ready and energised.
Below is a link to a playlist of 5 Hours of Super Mario Music, I have used it often and it has always come in handy.
Use the pomodoro technique
“The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s.”
A technique I love, it has helped me through the most tough exams. It consists of concentrating fully for 25 minutes and then taking a 5-minute break. This rhythm is repeated until the goal is reached. The great thing is that youtube is full of videos dedicated to this technique. A timer will warn you both when it’s time to take a break and when it’s time to get back to work.
Below is a link to one of my favourite videos.
Outline everything you have to write
Whether it’s a book, a story or a theme, make an outline of what you have to do before you do it. Making the outline will take a lot less mental energy but will help you get started.
If after doing it you still don’t feel like starting, put as much detail as you can into the outline, (even use silly words, make it casual and nice), eventually you will just have to fill in the blanks.
General advice: don’t wait for motivation to do something, it rarely comes back just when you need it. Instead, start forcing yourself even if you don’t feel like it. Starting will more likely motivate you to continue.
To help you find ways to produce whatever you want, without procrastination stopping you, I found this excellent course. Listen every minute carefully and over and over again because it is full of excellent advice.
