Motivation to stop procrastinating

Bump and all of the above!

Bump

Bump and meow. I set myself a small goal, and a small reward for reaching that goal. Rinse and repeat until the big goal is done.

Well take your pick/pic .

View attached image.

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I know exactly what you're talking about. I have to push myself very hard to do all necessary tasks that I have to do and usually wait till the latest moment possible (often resulting in night shifts or being to late). Often if not always it takes a deadline set (and controlled) from someone else to get me to do my stuff. That said, I took different approaches to overcome this habit with differing success.

So from my experience what helps me most is getting into the topic. Once I manage to dig into it, I rarely have motivation problems it's rather a problem to stop then and not to do much more than is asked. Another thing is I found out I have diferent times during a day when I can concentrate better. especially the late afternoons up until nighttime. So I rather look to get larger tasks done in that timeframe.

To be able to do all that I need to be organised. So first step for me is always to divide things up into smaller tasks, preferably tasks that can be done in about 1/2 an hour..From there on I was quite productive using the pomodoro technique. (Basically working for 25 min concentrated on something, then reward yourself for 5 min and get your head off the task. Then back to work for 25 min and so on.)

There are different techniques to get yourself organised. When looking at large/complex tasks for me I am most successful using mindmaps. So This means breaking up bigger problems or tasks into smaller objectives that can be tackled one by one. It especially helps me to get my head off a problem and concentrate on a single task since everything important is written down and I don't have to constantly think about everything and fear to forget something.

If there is just a lot of little things that need to be taken care of I like the personal kanban technique. This means writing all small tasks on little notes, add the time needed for that task and categorize these into "to do", "doing now", and "done". Then just move them from one category to the next one after one and you get your stuff done.

I can motivate myself fairly easily when doing something new (may it be a new method to do something or a new topic). But the main approach is to find a self-/time-management system that works for you. May it be lists, kanban, mindmaps or whatever. And apart from that some self discipline to stick with it ;P - but seeing how productive some things can be eliminated using a strict method can be very rewarding.

Given on what little time you have left this information is probably not relevant anymore but maybe it helps you (and/or others) on future assignments. Good luck with your actual one though.

Worth to note: for all the methods I posted there are heaps of apps, browser-plugins, software, and, and, and...
Here are some more hopefully helpful links:
Strict Workflow - A chrome plugin that blocks sites so you stay productive.
MindMeister - Online mindmap tool. Basic use is free, can be upgraded for premium features.
Kanbaneryl - Online kanban tool if you don't want to take paper notes

I face this problem often when I have to write my boring freelancer jobs or paper for academic magazines, When this happens I watch this video https://youtu.be/-sUKoKQlEC4 to remember that I have a talent and so many people that supported me until this day. I must not waste it.

I've found the best thing for me is just to break the essay down into little pieces, either by section or just doing a couple of pages a day. I then reward myself with a break. Since you don't have much time, I think the best thing to do is a stream of consciousness dump. Just hammer out 13 pages as fast as you can and then spend the rest of the time editing it to make it acceptable. Bump and good luck! :)

Animal videos... once i start 2, 3, 4 hours just pass.

Would putting yourself in an environment where you're not completely comfortable force you to do your work? For example, going to a nearby library or something, instead of staying at home. I've found that I'm hardly ever productive at home and that making myself go somewhere else to work on an assignment yields better results.

I browse the SG forum all day when procrastinating. I Have not found a cure for this yet, but eventually the time to do things seems just right and then I just do them without having to force myself. It might take some time tho till this time arrives ;P
Good luck with your essay! And thanks for the train <3

Oh I procrastinate a LOT too, I also postpone every thing I don't like until it's late... scumbag brain wants an excuse if I fail at that whatever thing (like "of course I failed I started too late", which is stupid as fuck).

My best advice is to close your laptop, PC, smartphone and whatever distracts you and start doing the damn thing... it's a pain in the ass to start but after 20min in you might actually concentrate until you finish the damn thing :3

Break it down into smaller parts, eg make an outline. Guess how much time it will take and put it in your schedule. Then, set a timer for 25 minutes and 5 minutes. Work for 25, do other stuff for 5 min. Only work during the times you've put in schedule. I hate working... Oh, and with essays, I find it best to just put down anything and not worry about editing, cause then its done and the editing is easy and maybe you won't even care later on, but at least you've got something to turn in

Wait a minute... I think to procrastinate = simply 'to sit and to wait the death'... to wait that your life get passed... without enjoying it...
Is this your life ? Is it what you dream your life ?

I don't think so...

So, now if you prefer to procrastinate than to do what you're expected to do (or what you have to do), maybe it is because your task is worse than to procrastinate... worse than 'to sit and to wait the death'...

... maybe you are on the wrong way and live a life that doesn't fit in with you... and waste your time/life...

Think about it...

By this way, maybe you can find essential things in your life, what you LOVE, then, by keeping only it, simplify your life and improve its quality :)

/my humble thinks

I wish you all the best,

Have fun time :)

I wish I could give you some clever advice, but I'm having the same problem myself. Good luck with your essay!

Same, I procrastinate a lot. ;-; I usually do better at doing productive stuff when I'm not at home, so maybe you can try that? ^^;

The ONLY secret to beat procrastination is to appreciate what you are working on more than immediate entertainment satisfaction.

Because of how fucked up school system and management rules are we are trained to do work like robots, with dues, contraints and deadlines, and that's what created the big strand of procrastination in society today.

The way to beat procrastination is to ask yourself what positive things are getting from your work:

1. What new knowledge and skills your are getting every time your work on something.
2. List, check or file every task, concrete things and final projets you accomplished.
3. Every time you realised that something you learned, worked on or produced earlier gives you a positive outcome, remark ou opportunity, acknowledge it.

This is the best way to reverse engineer the shit procrastination and meaningless forced work that has been ingrained by school/companies for years. This way, not only will appreciate work, you will always be motivated to do what you do, and most importantly you will learned to know what you like, what you want to do and what to change, rather than doing what you're told and not even knowing why you don't like it or want to do it.

Late bump : D