Do you find lots of other activities to do besides the right thing at the right time?  Try these suggestions to help you focus on getting important tasks completed without procrastinating. 

First, figure out what things are distracting you from your work, and then make a plan to address those distracters using the following suggestions.

Plan to address distracters.  Make a list of the ways you get distracted from starting and completing tasks. Make a plan for each item on your list.  For example, if your phone distracts you, you may want to charge it while you complete your important tasks.  Making a plan might also include planning time for those distracters.

Clear your workspace.  Try clearing the space where you start and complete tasks of all possible distracters.  Set your pile of tasks to do on your right side and as you complete those tasks move them to a pile on your left side.

Plan to complete your tasks regularly at the same time and place. Plan to complete important tasks when you have your best attention.  Use the methods I’ve suggested in previous posts for prioritizing and completing tasks by context.

Prioritize your procrastinating! Engage in productive procrastination where you put off one task only to complete another task that needs to be done. Continue this process and eventually, the avoided task becomes the tangent for another task you’re avoiding.  For example, while I am putting off mowing the yard, I might write a blog post or an article for a magazine.  Eventually, I get to mowing by putting off working out.

Use an interval timer set to beep or buzz every 10 to 15 minutes when completing important and time-limited tasks.  This serves as a signal to get back on track when necessary.

Try a structured routine if you are distracted, tired, bored, or overwhelmed when it is time to complete tasks.

 Break each hour into 3 parts:

• 15 minutes: get as many easy tasks as possible completed and check them off your list.

• 30 minutes: work on more difficult tasks that require your best effort and attention.

• 15 minutes: take a break.

Repeat the hour-long process as needed to complete the task.

This structured routine based on research at Harvard Business School works for procrastinators of all ages.

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(c) 2014 – 2021, Monte W. Davenport, Ph.D.