10 Easy Productivity Tips for Procrastinators Who Want to Get Ahead

Have you ever had the nagging feeling that you could do better in life? Of course, you have. Everyone has, at one point or another, suffered the torment of procrastination.

But don’t worry—even though your productivity may seem at an all-time low, it’s easy to get back on track and reap the rewards of your hard work and diligence with my productivity hacks reddit.

Whether you’re looking to climb the corporate ladder or just get through your to-do list each day, some basic habits can help you get much more accomplished with less stress and fewer headaches along the way.

In this article, I will share with you 10 productivity tips for procrastinators to make you more productive towards achieving your goals.

Let’s dive in.

 

Procrastination and Productivity

Procrastination and productivity don’t exactly go hand in hand.

Procrastination, the act of delaying tasks or actions to later times, can be detrimental to productivity.

With all the steps and tasks you have to take in order to get ahead in your career, procrastination will only slow you down.

If you’re like most people, you want to get things done, but somehow things always seem to get in the way and leave you working at the last minute or not at all.

Fortunately, you can take steps and tips to combat procrastination, so you’ll be better prepared to prioritize your tasks and see results from your efforts sooner rather than later.

These are my personal productivity hacks reddit whenever I want to procrastinate on any tasks.

 

What are the 10 productivity tips for procrastinators?

Here are top 10 productivity tips for procrastinators who want to get ahead. These are the top 10 productivity hacks I use whenever I’m feeling lazy and not in my productive state.

 

1. Make a list of the tasks you need to do

The first thing I do whenever I’m feeling less productive is to write a list of tasks I want to do, and this is my first productivity tips for procrastinators

When you have a list of tasks, it’s easier to see what you need to do and when you need to do it. This can help you plan your day and to avoid procrastinating.

Being able to see your collective tasks laid out in front of you can also help you avoid procrastinating. It’s hard to pretend that you have nothing left to do when it’s right there in front of you.

In fact, writing to-do lists and due dates has more benefits and may actually makes you more likely to follow through with them because they’re clearly laid out and easier to see.

If a task is overwhelming or too big, break it up into smaller steps so that it feels more manageable.

Make a to-do list and then add three to five actionable items at a time; repeat as necessary.

If your list is longer than one page, create over one copy so you don’t have to flip back and forth as you check off each item.

Also, use check boxes rather than Xs so it looks like there are fewer things on your list; even though it takes more work per item, marking them off will feel like an even bigger accomplishment.

 

2. Break down the task into smaller steps

My second productivity tips for procrastinators is breaking down big tasks into smaller one.

When a task seems daunting, it’s easy to procrastinate. But if you break the task down into smaller steps, it becomes easier to do.

For example, if you’re procrastinating on writing a report, you might set a goal of writing three paragraphs. Once that’s done, it will be easier to tackle another task.

You procrastinate because you think your project is impossible. That’s why breaking it down into smaller steps makes it much more manageable.

In fact, one study of collective college students who were procrastinating on a paper found that if they broke their task down into small collective steps, they would actually complete it on time—and enjoy themselves in the process.

At first, try breaking down small tasks until they seem easy enough—then move on to bigger goals.

Breaking down your work also helps you get into what some call flow.

Flow is when you forget about time and lose yourself in a project; when you accomplish more with less stress and strain than normal.

You’ll know when you’re in the flow because it feels like nothing else matters but completing your work or achieving your goal at hand. It’s important to note that flow can’t be forced.

It comes naturally as long as you break down big projects into smaller ones and don’t focus too much on finishing them all at once.

 

3. Prioritize your task

My third productivity tips for procrastinators is task prioritization.

One of the habits of procrastinators is that they don’t prioritize tasks. And this is something else.

If your schedule is too full and you feel you’re constantly late or rushing, it may be a good idea to take a step back and reassess what your priorities are.

It can help you refocus on what’s important in life, so you aren’t bogged down by what seems urgent but isn’t necessarily important.

If your company will look poorly on it if you don’t attend a networking event (aka it’s urgent) but won’t suffer any losses if some work isn’t finished that day (it’s not important), ask yourself why making an appearance is more important than meeting deadlines. Its called productivity hacks reddit (kidding)

So, maybe because it helps make new contacts that could eventually lead to business opportunities?

Or it’s just easier to do something outside of work rather than actually stay focused at work?

Regardless of your reasoning, write down how much time you spend working versus how much time you spend networking each week.

You might find that there’s a better way to balance things out.

 

4. Set deadlines for each task

The next thing I do after I make a to-do list is set a deadline for each task. This is my forth productivity tips for procrastinators.

When you have a deadline, you are more likely to do the task. This can help to motivate you and to keep you on track.

When you set a time limit for each step, you are more likely to stay on track. This can help to prevent you from procrastinating.

Start by setting a deadline for each step.

Give yourself 15 minutes to brainstorm ideas, 30 minutes to do research, and about 90 minutes to prepare the first draft.

You can break those down further if you need more time, but starting with larger chunks of time will help you stay focused on your tasks.

An hourglass is one of the most powerful tools of time management because it keeps you from getting distracted by other things that pop up throughout your day.

When you are working on a project, set an hourglass timer and stick with it until the sand runs out.

You’ll be surprised at how much more focused and productive you can be when you work within a set amount of time.

 

Yeah… One of the best ways to get things done on time is by setting strict deadlines.

People procrastinate because they don’t have a clearly defined due date, so make sure that every task you start has an end date.

Whether it’s something as simple as cleaning your apartment or cooking a meal, give yourself a deadline and then stick to it.

(This will be much easier if you create a schedule).

Make sure deadlines are based on real-life goals, not arbitrary dates—like before Thursday night or by December 31st.

When you know exactly what you want to accomplish, your work will be much more efficient and accurate.

A big part of being productive is managing your time effectively.

You can’t just rush through tasks in order to meet a deadline; you need to actually plan out how long each step should take.

If you’re trying to organize dinner with friends at 7 p.m., but aren’t finished working until 6:30 p.m., make sure everyone knows dinner will start at 7:30 p.m.—not 7 p.m.—or else you’ll be late.

 

Also, try setting two or three different alarms on your phone when working on tasks that require focused attention.

It’s very easy to get distracted if there’s nothing urgent happening around you.

Set timers for 15-minute increments and do whatever needs doing during those times until all tasks are complete.

Also read: Simon Sinek Quotes On Leadership: How To Be A Good Leader

 

5. Block Off Time in Your Calendar

This is another habits of procrastinators, they add everything and anything to their calendar. (even the ones they weren’t aware of before).

So my fifth productivity tips for procrastinators is this, don’t let any extra, unplanned time sneak into your day.

If you think you need an hour or two per day in order to get something done, add those blocks of time directly into your calendar.

Just because it’s not scheduled doesn’t mean it gets done, says performance coach Johnathan Dane in his presentations.

This is something else. It will surely prevent last-minute stress and frantic scrambling on your part.

When you do schedule a chunk of time for a task, give yourself plenty of leeways; if it takes twice as long as expected, so be it.

You’ll still be ahead of where you would have been if you had waited until everything was ready before setting aside that block of time in your calendar.

The key is to avoid procrastinating by making time for things, instead of putting them off until later.

 

6. Relax and De-Stress First

My number next productivity tips for procrastinators is to learn when to relax.

Studies have shown that procrastination can be a symptom of stress, anxiety, or depression.

Another habits of procrastinators is this, we overwork ourselves. And we need to acknowledge that.

If you’re not feeling well mentally, it’s hard to concentrate and focus on what needs doing.

And if you do de-stress first, you’ll end up with an increased mood and productivity—which will enable you to get more done down the line.

Turn off all notifications and relax. Text messages, social media, email notifications, and things that can cause emotional distractions, that will make you feel you have more to do, turn them off for some moment, and relax your brain.

Taking time out of your day—even just 15 minutes—to relax or meditate will help clear your mind and build resilience so that procrastination doesn’t get in your way.

 

7. Find Accountability Partners

If you have a hard time keeping your resolutions, find a friend or coworker who can help hold you accountable. This is another productivity tips for procrastinators.

Have a conversation with them.

After all, you’re more likely to follow through on something if someone is waiting for it. When it comes to reaching goals—and meeting deadlines—don’t keep it in your head.

Tell others about what you plan to do and check in with them as much as possible along the way.

Don’t make it easy for yourself to make excuses.

This strategy applies just as well to big goals as smaller ones, like calling your grandma every week (yes, even if you don’t have anything new or exciting to tell her).

It’s far easier to break a resolution when no one knows about it.

 

8. Accept That Some Things Just Need Doing

This is another productivity tips for procrastinators.

Being a procrastinator doesn’t mean you don’t have any ambition.

It just means that your idea of getting things done is different than most people’s.

The biggest mistake many procrastinators make is believing that a job has to be done 100% correctly in order to move on.

Unfortunately, when you adopt that mindset, not only do deadlines pass you by, but sometimes they can start looking so daunting that they become impossible to tackle—which could lead you to even more delays and tension.

Also read: 7 Most Inspiring Courageous Leadership Quotes

 

9. Get organized

If your desk is cluttered, it’s hard to focus on your work. But if your desk is organized, it’s easier to find what you need and to focus on your tasks.

One of my favorite tools is Teamwork.

Read: 21 Best Work Organizer Apps That Will Make Your Life Easier in 2022

It allows you to visually see your tasks, organize them by priority and make it easy to move things around or add new tasks.

If a task isn’t getting done or taking too long, you can easily rearrange it so that it’s completed earlier than scheduled.

Getting organized will make your work more efficient, help you stay on top of your workload, and give you peace of mind because everything will be where you left it when you come back.

Plus, it’s easier to focus on your work if you don’t have to look for stuff.

So try using one of these apps or setting up a simple system yourself. I promise: Your desk won’t look as bad as mine does now.

And with all that extra space, you’ll have room for all those books about being productive—you know, just in case. Productivity hacks reddit.

 

10. Reward Yourself (When You Hit Those Milestones)

Self-control is a limited resource, but you can use that fact to your advantage by rewarding yourself when you reach a milestone.

For example, maybe you are looking forward to going out with friends on Friday night if you’ve written 1,000 words that week.

Maybe it’s being able to go shopping if you hit your writing goal first thing Monday morning, chatting with an old friend/crush on social media (joking) or maybe it’s watching a favorite TV show on Netflix if a client is happy with your work.

Whatever your reward is, make sure it makes sense and is something that will motivate and excite—because people respond positively when they get what they want.

So don’t think of rewards as bribes; think of them as motivation and encouragement from someone who cares about you.