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Writer's pictureD.K. Malu

How to overcome Procrastinating & Be Productive?




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If you feel guilty about procrastinating, remember that you're not alone. We all know and do it and are guilty of procrastinating occasionally. It's an everyday struggle that many of us share. 


 Of course, you may have prioritized the essential tasks on your list, but something unexpected arises whenever you try to focus and do what is most important. As a result, many of us put off activities or projects we need to do. Nonetheless, we feel guilty, especially seeing other people accomplish their goals. And we look at our work and think, oh, gosh, this is terrible, that you can't even bring yourself to work on it.


If you are related to any of those mentioned above and want to become more productive, here are a few strategies to help: 

Set up a goal




Brown girl sitting on her bed with her laptop

 Remember that every goal has a starting point and an endpoint, and it requires significant effort. Therefore, being clear about what you want to improve and achieve is essential. Setting a goal, like writing five blog posts per week or publishing three books in a year without considering your current situation, is vague. Setting clear and measurable goals is crucial to avoid feeling overwhelmed and increase your chances of success. Start by prioritizing the most essential tasks and work your way down. This approach will give you a better chance of reaching your goals while feeling energized and supported.

Break down your tasks into steps. 

 One highly effective strategy for overcoming procrastination is to break down large, intimidating tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. This makes the task less overwhelming and allows you to set achievable deadlines for each step, which helps you maintain focus and progress steadily toward completion.

Get organized

 Tidy up your workspace by organizing your desk, putting away unnecessary items, and clearing any clutter. Additionally, create a daily task list to track what needs to be accomplished daily. This will help you start your day with a clear plan and minimize any time spent figuring out what to focus on first.



 Avoid Multitasking 

 Many of us multitask to save time, but this can be counterproductive. Instead, when we focus on one task at a time, we can give it our full attention, which often results in better quality work than multitasking. 

 Make your timetable

A setting up her study goal

One problem that causes procrastination is time management. You obviously have a lot of reasonable things happening in your life that cause you to procrastinate. For many parents, your family, your home, your work, and especially if you have little kids, finding time to do what you love can be difficult. I can't mention laundry and dishes to do. 

When I went to college, I had four kids, and they were little, and I had a lot of schoolwork. It was very overwhelming during the first few months. So, I made



my studying timetable. Every Friday at midnight, I'd spent 2-3 hours; every Saturday and Sunday, I'd spent 2 hours after dinner. During this time, I avoided distractions, including having my phone with me or going to social media platforms. I also made sure my family knew it was my study time. Guess what happened? I was able to get my college diploma and even got enrolled in a university. Who knows how much you can accomplish? Just put your mind to it, and you will see the best result.

Set Rewards  

Sometimes, the only way to motivate yourself is to set rewards for completing specific tasks. Whether taking a break after finishing an important project or treating yourself to something special once all your goals are accomplished, having something positive to look forward to can help you stay focused and motivated. 

Take Regular Breaks

Sitting around all day will not help with motivation levels, so get up and move occasionally. Taking a short walk or stretching exercises can give you the energy to get back into focus mode and keep going with whatever task needs to be completed. 


Eliminate Distractions

To avoid procrastination, we must remove any distractions from our environment. Put away cell phones, turn off the television and radio, and close down social media websites if necessary to stay focused on what needs to be done without getting sidetracked by something else more interesting or exciting. 

Talk about it

 Sharing your struggles with others can provide valuable perspectives and help identify solutions that might not have been previously considered. When you open up about your challenges, you allow others to offer fresh insights and alternative viewpoints. This can lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the issue and uncover innovative solutions you may not have considered. Additionally, sharing your struggles can foster a sense of community and support, as others may have faced and overcome procrastination, and can offer their secrets/or tips to overcome it.


Procrastination is often a result of our lack of self-discipline or motivation, and it's okay to struggle with it. Don't beat yourself up over it! Remember that there is always time (or early) for a fresh start. Take small steps towards achieving your goals, set achievable rewards along the way, and eliminate any unnecessary distractions that might derail your progress – these are all critical ingredients for helping you succeed in avoiding procrastination and being productive. Hopefully, these tips will give you insight into overcoming this common struggle!







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Charli Dee
Charli Dee
Jun 04, 2024
Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

I love your post! I love what you mentioned about making sure to take breaks! When I’m working and I’m in the zone, I tend to think I’m the energizer bunny and I just keep going and going! lol. I’m terrible at taking breaks, Especially now that I’m on my own schedule as a full time writer. I have to set my own schedule, and that’s hard for me. When your on someone else’s time you’re told when to have lunch and when work is over. When you work for yourself and you set up your own time it’s easy to forget to take card of yourself. I’m learning to act as if I’m doing a regular job and making…

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D.K. Malu
D.K. Malu
Jul 07, 2024
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Thanks, I'm glad you find this useful.

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Guest
Jun 01, 2024

Nice post and very I informative.

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D.K. Malu
D.K. Malu
Jun 01, 2024
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Thanks

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