Laziness is one of the evils that keep us the most from success. We really want to see results, but… What a lazy! I better stay home watching Netflix.
Look, it’s not your fault. The offer of entertainment and comfort today is so high that it is natural to tend to choose what makes us feel good.
But the truth is that, in the long run, we will only be able to look back and discover that we have wasted so much of our time: and the truth is that time is the only commodity that never gets back.
So if you want to beat laziness and stop procrastinating once and for all, these simple rules will help you get started and lead a more productive life.
1. If the task takes less than two minutes, do it
This is a Japanese rule of thumb for ending procrastination. Come on, throwing that paper in the bin won’t take you more than a minute, don’t leave it there.
The first big step to stop procrastinating is to start small. You will see how much changes at the end of the day!
2. Write things down
If you have an idea spinning in your head, or you know you have to do something but you’re not doing it right now, it’s time to use your calendar. Take a moment to look at your commitments for the week. When would it suit you to do that earring?
Write it down in the appropriate place and forget about it until then. You know, the things that you don’t get out of your head are still there annoying and taking up space that you could be using for something more productive.
Of course, be realistic when you choose a day and time for your activity, because the trick is that when the day comes you do it.
3. Prioritize
Once you get in the habit of having everything you need to do written down, it will be much easier for you to manage time and be more productive. Now, take a minute each day to look at your to-do list, and decide which one is the most important.
And start with that! Sometimes we waste too much time doing small things, and when the time comes to do the important tasks, we are tired and unwilling. Avoid that.
4. Dress for success
It has been shown that you are much more likely to go to the gym if you have dressed for it a while before. Sometimes, what is laziest is not going to the gym but taking off your pajamas.
The same can happen with going to see someone who is an important contact, or going to book that trip you’ve always dreamed of.
Sometimes taking a minute a day to choose your outfit can be the key to success, as dressing for the occasion boosts your confidence and sends a positive message to your brain.
5. Be aware of your time
This exercise may take you a little over a minute (maybe 10), but it can work miracles when it comes to beating procrastination. It’s about taking a pen and paper and writing down all the things you do in the day. All.
That includes, in addition to working hours, smaller things like brushing your teeth, taking a shower, making dinner, and playing with the kids. And of course, you must also include the transfer hours.
Now, write down how much approximate time each activity takes you. How much free time do you really have left? Possibly less than you thought.
This is not to make you bitter, but to make you aware of the time you have. Sometimes you procrastinate because you feel like the day is endless and, when you want to remember, it’s time to go to bed.
Now, in that free time, write down to do a simple activity, that does not consume everything (come on, there are still unforeseen events and the time that you are going to look at social networks and that you surely have not signed up for). You will see that it is less difficult for you to do it now that you are realistic.
6. Choose a moment for you
Sometimes you load yourself with activities so much that in the end you end up being lazy to do them. Well, at this point I have something to tell you: you are a human being too! It is normal that you cannot be 100% all day.
When you plan your week, save a good number of hours of some day of the week just to do nothing. If you work in a dependency relationship, it can be on Sunday.
For example, you can decide that on Sunday from when you get up until lunchtime you are not going to do anything. Spend those hours watching Netflix, reading a novel, or lying in bed listening to music. You also need to do nothing from time to time!
7. Delegate
In the end, no matter how much you manage your time and even if you manage to end laziness, the day only has 24 hours. You already figured it out in point 5. So there’s no use trying to do everything except to end up exhausted and frustrated.
Go back to what you have written down in point 5 and see, is there something you can delegate? Maybe you can call a carpenter to make that piece of furniture out of pallets you’ve seen on Pinterest. Yes, it’s easy, but you have other priorities.
Or how about hiring someone to do your paperwork? Maybe you save standing in lines twice a week.
You will already know which delegable task is consuming much of your time. Remember this: Investing in time is the best investment!
What do you think of these rules to beat laziness and procrastination once and for all?
Sources:
Entrepreneur