The fact is that everyone procrastinates. Everyone has too much to do and too little time in which to do it. So what can you do to stop procrastinating? There are many techniques you can use to overcome—or at least manage—wasting time. Here are some of them:
1. Program your subconscious mind. Perhaps the most powerful words you can use to increase your productivity are “Do it now! Do it now! Do it now!” Whenever you find yourself delaying an important task, repeat these words out loud to yourself.
The amazing thing is that after you repeat these words 10, 20 or even 100 times, you will have programmed your subconscious mind to start your most important task and complete it before you do anything else.
Throughout the day, when you are distracted from your most important task by people, emails, telephone calls and whatever else, take back control of yourself by repeating the words “Back to work! Back to work! Back to work!”
2. Use task management and break big tasks into small parts. Any big task can be completed if you break it down into small enough parts. One of the best techniques is to divide your task into what are called “bite-sized pieces.” Take a piece of paper and write down every small part of the task that you have to do, in sequence, from the first little job to the final one.