8 steps for improving your productivity

“I’ll get to it later.” “I don’t have time to do this now.” “I wish I could get started building this new habit in my life.”

Ah, the familiar refrains of procrastination. Unfortunately, these melodies never seem to get old. Like familiar love songs filled with longing, postponing what we want to do may too often remind us of where we wish we were and don’t seem able to get to. Yet, while we cannot control the actions of others, we can influence our own choices and actions.

Procrastination is simply putting things off. We all procrastinate sometimes. But let’s face it, some of us put things off more than others. According to Joseph Ferrari, Ph.D., professor of psychology at DePaul University, about 20 percent of people in the United States are chronic procrastinators (American Psychological Association, 2010). Ferrari explains that procrastination is not just delaying, but purposely waiting to make a decision or take an action.

Is it worth taking a second look at how and when you put off what matters to you? How might you choose to shift that pattern of behaviour so you can move forward toward your goals?

For example, maybe someone has many boxes of photos in their home, and they want to organise them. Perhaps the family has snapped many of the photos, while others were inherited from loved ones, and they still have most of them. They want to streamline the number of images and organise the remaining photos, but the task may seem so formidable that they’ve been putting it off repeatedly. They know they need to get started on the project, but haven’t yet taken any meaningful action. To begin moving forward, they can take the steps listed below.

Here are eight steps to help you move forward with your goals
Are you determined to move forward with your goals, large and small? Start here:

1. Make a firm decision to get started on the undertaking.

You might want to write down your goal and post it somewhere you can see it daily.

2. Think ahead—begin the venture with the conclusion in mind.

Define your goal. What would you like to have accomplished when the project is completed? How do you want to feel? Remember that you have the freedom to choose what you do and how you do it; you’re responsible for your choices (Covey, 2020).

3. Prioritise what’s most important about this task.

Make a realistic list of the parts of the project. You may choose to adjust the list as your understanding of the job and what it will take to complete it evolves.

4. Consider available resources.

Who can help you get this done—family, a friend, a consultant, or a coach? Discuss approach, strategies, and options. Is there a skill you can learn or strengthen to help you accomplish this goal?

5. Break the tasks into reasonable chunks from beginning to completion.

Start small and create manageable chunks that you have sufficient time to do effectively. “I’m going to take out just one box, a small one. I’ll start easy with a portion of it that seems manageable and give myself enough time to make good progress.”

6. Create a contingency plan.

If you find that you are not meeting your goal, developing a wanted habit, or procrastinating on the steps, then what will you do? Instead of ignoring what’s getting in the way, research on motivation by Gabriele Oetingen, Ph.D. (2014) reveals that it can help to boldly name the obstacle and create a plan to address it.

For example: “If I’m getting bored with today’s task, I’ll take a short break to walk the dog. Then I’ll come right back to the project.”

7. Reward yourself.

Celebrate being on the path and your wins along the way. Pause to notice your wins. What did you accomplish today? How does it feel to be making progress?

If you haven’t done what you wanted to today, how can you support yourself with self-compassion? Consider using your contingency plan or talking with a supportive friend to help yourself get back on track.

8. Rest and renew.

Remember to take good care of yourself. Get enough sleep, eat healthy foods, exercise in a way that respects your body and your abilities, and interact with other people that you enjoy.

What goal are you procrastinating about?

How could you get yourself started toward successful completion?

What’s your plan?

When will you begin, and what are your first steps?

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. No content is a substitute for consulting with a qualified mental health or healthcare professional.