Laziness can be a real drag on your ability to perform tasks and progress in life. You put things off, you rush last-minute work, and you deliver at a mere fraction of your full capabilities. No one wants to live like that!
But laziness isn’t a permanent trait, and it doesn’t have to be one that defines you and your life. All you have to do is learn the methods that can work for you to help overcome your procrastination.
Here Are 5 Ways To Overcome Laziness And Stop Postponing Schedules
1. Focus On The Most Crucial Tasks First
One of the most valuable skills you can learn to stop postponing things is prioritizing your most essential tasks in a list of tasks. This method can have positive effects on your productivity. Reasons it is essential to pick the most significant responsibility to concentrate on the first include:
- An ability to devote the most time and energy to the most crucial task
- When you are tired, only the least important tasks will remain
- You will be able to get the problematic jobs done early
You need to focus on a specific task instead of multiple tasks at once to avoid being overwhelmed:
- Multitasking can lead to distractions that derail any attempts at productivity
- It sets your priorities straight, showing you which unrelated things you should say “no” to
- A motivation boost from finishing this first task can help you finish the next few tasks
- Less difficult tasks will appear less daunting if you’ve completed a much more difficult one first
Getting the tricky stuff out of the way can be great for reducing feelings and urges of laziness. You’ll have already done what you’re least looking forward to, so the desire to avoid your work will lower significantly!
2. Stay Motivated and Committed
When you’re motivated, you get things done quickly. You don’t postpone schedules or act lazy because you want to get it done. However, motivation is not permanent. It comes and goes. That’s why you also need the commitment to stick to your goals and schedule, and you need to be able to help yourself be motivated again eventually. Here are some ways to do that:
· Visualize Success
Close your eyes and visualize yourself, completing the tasks at hand. Imagine being energetic and happy as you finish your jobs, working efficiently, and producing good quality work. The mind is a powerful thing, and these visualizations can boost your positive thinking significantly.
· Use Positive Affirmations
When you tell yourself something positive enough, you will begin to believe it and make it a reality. Choose some specific and uplifting affirmations to say to yourself daily. Examples are “I accomplish my goals,” “I perform tasks easily and on time,” “I am capable of great things,” or “I have the motivation I need to do what I need to do.”
· Consider The Benefits
Think about the short-term good that will come out of completing your tasks. What can you do in your free time? How will it help to advance your career or life? Who will be proud of you?
· Consider The Consequences
Think about the bad things that will happen if you give in to feelings of laziness and keep postponing everything you need to do. Who will be disappointed in or angry at you? How will this hurt your career, goals, or life plans? How difficult will it be to keep up with or make up for the laziness?
· Find People To Look Up To
Are there people around you who are living a successful life you want to live? Are there people whose traits and hard work you admire? Use these people as your inspiration. If circumstances allow, you can even ask them for advice.
· Envision Your Goals
Who do you want to be? What do you want to achieve? What kind of life do you want to live? Let these thoughts propel you forward.
· Announce Your Plans
Tell all your friends or family members what you plan to do. Post your schedule and commitment to it on social media. Announce it to the world! This will help you stay motivated, both to keep good on your word and to avoid losing face when you don’t follow through.
3. Take Care Of Your Body to Conquer Laziness
Laziness is sometimes not a reflection of your character but a genuine product of your energy levels. Not taking care of your health can cause your body to become exhausted, even without you realizing it! This can lead to “laziness,” which is really just you needing a break.
Caring for your body is crucial in caring for your mind and positive thinking – and, therefore, your productivity. Here are some ways you should be taking care of your body to avoid unintentional laziness:
· Exercise regularly
It is recommended that you get 30 minutes of exercise for five days a week for 150 minutes of physical activity weekly.
· Eat a balanced diet
Focus on eating reasonable portions focused on healthier, nutritionally balanced meals. Occasional treats are fine, but make sure most of your food is healthy!
· Don’t skip medical check-ups
It can be tempting to miss annual check-ups, especially due to their potential cost. But those costs are nothing compared to the price involved with treating a serious illness that could have been spotted early and prevented.
· Give yourself regular breaks
There’s a difference between laziness and taking a much-needed rest. Give yourself a self-care or off day now and then to refresh yourself.
4. Understand Deadlines and How To Set Them
Working within time constraints can be relatively challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. Using deadlines can teach you to work within a certain time limit, thereby forcing you to rearrange your schedule to fit your tasks in on time.
When you don’t have a fixed deadline, or you have one that is a long time away, a false sense of security can trap you. It’s a good idea to break down large tasks into smaller ones with their deadlines for positive results.
Though they sound strict and tiring, deadlines can lead to fewer working hours. This is because you can consider your deadlines rules rather than guidelines. Once the clock strikes a certain time, your time is up, no matter what.
But sometimes, avoiding the hassle working overtime isn’t enough of an incentive to meet deadlines. You need to make deadlines matter enough that you want to meet them. One way to do this is by thinking about what you’re missing out on by working extra hours, such as free time to:
- Watch a TV show or movie you’ve meant to watch
- Read a book you’ve wanted to read
- Indulge in a time-consuming hobby
- Go out with friends or alone for a fun night
- Spend with loved ones
- Exercise
- Cook a nice meal
- Just relax
If this isn’t enough incentive, try scheduling something you’d really want to look forward to after a deadline. Schedule a date or outing or plan to catch a movie and book tickets in advance – anything that helps you want to keep to the deadline.
A word of caution: do make sure that your deadlines are reasonable. Understand your working ability, and don’t give yourself added stress by setting deadlines that are too close to impossible for you to meet. This could make you give up on deadlines altogether – or result in questionable work quality.
5. Try The Eisenhower Matrix
This matrix is named after President Dwight Eisenhower, America’s 34th president. It was used by him when he was the supreme commander of the Allied forces during the Second World War. He used this method of prioritizing and understanding the urgency to command thousands of troops successfully.
Regardless of your opinions on President Eisenhower’s politics, few can deny that his matrix works. Studies prove that his method of prioritization and managing multiple tasks has positive effects on productivity and procrastination. The model divides tasks into four quadrants. Here’s how to use the matrix.
· Quadrant 1: Important, Urgent Tasks
These tasks are both crucial and time-sensitive. Typically, these tasks will have a critical effect on your career or your life that requires them to be finished immediately.
Quadrant 1 tasks may involve searching for a job, finishing a report for work, replying to client requests, getting treatment for a severe illness, or paying an urgent bill.
· Quadrant 2: Important, Non-Urgent Tasks
These tasks are important and can have a big impact on your life, but they aren’t time-sensitive enough to warrant immediate completion. Typically, they have something to do with your long-term goals – and they often get overlooked due to their lack of urgency.
Quadrant 2 tasks may involve exercising, furthering your studies for career purposes, dedicating time to spend with loved ones, or improving on non-crucial skills.
· Quadrant 3: Urgent, Non-Important Tasks
These tasks are time-sensitive, but often not crucial to your personal career or life. These are often jobs you would delegate to other people who are in a better position to perform them when you are their leader, or to those who are more qualified in that field.
Quadrant 3 tasks may involve answering a ringing phone while you’re busy, responding to individual simple emails, or doing a very minor and simple but urgent task.
· Quadrant 4: Non-Important, Non-Urgent Tasks
These tasks are ones that sap up your time for no good reason. Avoid doing them at all when you have work or other duties to perform.
Quadrant 4 tasks may involve watching television, playing games, lounging around, or chatting for hours with a random acquaintance.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take time for leisure. You absolutely should! But during your working hours, these tasks should not be focused on, and if you have to sacrifice any tasks, these should be the first to go.
Final Thoughts On Some Ways To Overcome Laziness
Laziness can make your life exceedingly difficult. But by learning to overcome its underlying causes and working around urges and feelings that detract from productivity, you can learn to stop postponing schedules and start seeing progress and success in your work.
Utilizing methods to avoid laziness is far from shameful. It’s something to be praised and smiled upon! You’re doing what you can to fight the inner desire we all feel just to relax, and that’s admirable in itself.
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