Procrastination is a problem that affects workers in nearly every profession, keeping important tasks from being accomplished and decreasing productivity. According to Psychology Today, roughly 20 percent of individuals identify themselves as chronic procrastinators. You must understand what causes procrastination and what methods are available to help you or your employees to stop procrastinating on the job.
When you procrastinate, you normally feel discomfort at the prospect of completing certain tasks. To stop procrastinating, you must first get to the root of why you avoid these tasks in the first place. According to psychology professors Timothy Pychyl, Ph.D., and Joseph Ferrari, Ph.D., procrastination is not a time-management problem. Workers either procrastinate for the thrill of completing last-minute projects, because they fear failure, or because they're unwilling to make responsibility-laden decisions. But fortunately, you are not born a procrastinator, so you can improve your self-regulation.
The first step to stop procrastinating on the job is to get clarification on your task. Missing information provides an easy excuse for procrastinating at work, so take any doubts and questions to management immediately upon receiving a task to ensure you have everything you need to get started. Find meaning in every task by asking your manager how it fits into your organization's larger goals. This gives value to the task, helping you to prioritize it even when you'd rather avoid it.
Another tip to help you stop procrastinating is to set small goals and reward yourself after completing each one. For example, if you are tempted to log on to Facebook instead of facing a difficult task at the office, allow yourself a quick break after every 20 minutes of work. To help you increase productivity, use the same activities you would normally use to avoid a task as your reward.
Getting the most difficult tasks done first can also help you to stop procrastinating on your work. Completing the hardest tasks first to get them out of the way eliminates the dread factor that contributes to procrastination. This also gives you a sense of relief and achievement early on, giving you more confidence to continue working. Conversely, you can arrange your tasks so that you complete the easiest ones first. This approach is most helpful if you are having trouble getting started in the first place by easing you into the appropriate mindset.
To stop procrastinating at your job, find the methods that work for you after identifying why you procrastinate in the first place. If procrastinating at work is a serious problem for you, consider enrolling in cognitive behavioral therapy with a licensed psychologist. Alternately, working more in group settings can help you to stop procrastinating because it increases your accountability to your coworkers.
(Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles / freedigitalphotos.net)
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