How to avoid the pitfalls of procrastination

Whether you’ve got looming deadlines, collaborations on major projects, or you’re working from home, it’s easy to get distracted. Here’s how to recognize the signs that you’re delaying the tasks you need to accomplish and get tips on how to get back in the groove of productivity—no matter if you’re putting off work, daily chores, or even tasks that you look forward to.

Why we procrastinate

Procrastination is a common problem that affects many people, especially those who work from home or have flexible schedules. However, procrastination can lead to missed deadlines, decreased productivity, and increased stress.

Your Outlook can change everything

Spend less time organizing your life and more time enjoying it with Outlook

Learn More

We tend to focus on the short-term benefits of procrastination, such as avoiding discomfort or stress, rather than the long-term consequences of missed deadlines and decreased productivity. Additionally, we tend to procrastinate because we have unrealistic expectations of ourselves or fear failure. It’s a behavior that can be both conscious and unconscious, and it affects people in different ways.

It’s worth noting that procrastination isn’t the same as laziness, as lazy people avoid work altogether, while procrastinators tend to delay it.

What causes procrastination?

Procrastination has many causes, including:

Perfectionism: People who have high standards for themselves may delay starting a task because they fear they won’t do it perfectly.
Lack of motivation: When a task feels boring or unimportant, it’s easy to put it off.
Fear of failure: People who are afraid of failing may delay starting a task to avoid the possibility of disappointment.
Overwhelming tasks: When a task or project feels too big or too complex, it can be hard to know where to start.
Distractions: Social media, email, and other distractions can take us away from important tasks.

Understanding the root cause of your procrastination can help you find effective ways to overcome it.

“When we’re working from home, it’s easy to hold off on tasks and find other things to do, such as cleaning or organizing our living spaces.”

How to avoid procrastination

If you want to avoid procrastination and increase your productivity, here are some practical tips to get started:

Break down tasks into smaller, manageable chunks
Set specific, achievable goals and deadlines
Eliminate distractions and create a focused work environment
Prioritize your tasks based on urgency and importance
Create a to-do list and check off completed tasks
Use positive affirmations to boost motivation and confidence
Reward yourself for completing tasks on time

When we’re working from home, it’s easy to hold off on tasks and find other things to do, such as cleaning or organizing our living spaces. If you’re looking to make a change, check out Life Hacks for more articles about how to stay productive when working from home. Perhaps there are elements in your life that extend deeper than short-term tasks: here’s how to declutter your mind and practice focusing techniques. And if you find that the office is a more productive space, here are ways to define separations between work and home life—so you can think more clearly in either field.