Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today

Whether it’s work, study or general life admin, procrastinating is something most of us do. Though taking breaks is important and can help us become more productive in the long-term and take care of our emotional health, sometimes pushing yourself to do something, even when you don’t really feel like doing it, can actually help improve your productivity and reduce your stress levels. Here is a list of productivity tips from Bach Original Flower Remedies to help you work smarter, develop good habits, and get things done once and for all!

Make a list of things that shouldn’t wait until tomorrow

Lists are a great way to prioritise what you need to do and make sure you don’t forget anything. But sometimes, it can be all too easy to cross out a task and push it to the next day. Writing them in an efficient way is the key to actually getting things done. Instead of writing down all of the big tasks you need to do in one go, start by prioritising your tasks from most important to least important. Then, start breaking down each task into smaller tasks – what are all of the steps you need to do to cross that thing off your list for good? Though you might be inclined to get the smaller, less important things out of the way first, these will still take up some of your energy, making it more likely for you to push the more important things back. So, start with your most important task and set out to accomplish a certain amount of your subtasks first before starting anything else.

Goal setting

If your heart isn’t invested, chances are you’re going to put things off longer than usual. Figuring out what your goals are and how to achieve them can help your productivity, allowing you to devote more energy to the things that have more value in your life and improving your emotional wellness.

Firstly, you need to figure out what your goals are right now. Then, similarly to list making, write out the things you think you’ll need to do in order to achieve these goals. Thinking about that end goal can help you determine whether or not you need to stick to the task. Sometimes the task won’t align with your goal, and in that case, feel empowered to let it go or put it to the side for the time being. If the task is going to help you with your end goal, then break it down and push through it!

If you still have other things that you need to get done, think back to prioritisation and ask yourself these questions: how important are they, how much energy are they going to require, and what will the reward or outcome be from completing them?

If you’re still lacking motivation, that may mean you’re at a point in your life where you need to re-evaluate your goals – and that’s perfectly ok. Doing something that will make an impact in your life and that will bring a sense of fulfilment will naturally increase your productivity and motivation. After all, life is too short to stay stuck in something that isn’t working.

Call a friend

Though having long chats with friends is great and can be a great way to release tension, we’re talking about a more practical kind of chat here. If you’re struggling to get things done, it can be worth calling someone who might be in a similar situation as you. Maybe they also tend to put things off and, in that case, talking through some of your sticking points or planning to meet up and work together could help. If, on the other hand, your friend is great at sticking to a plan and getting things done, then maybe calling them will inspire you to do the same. Either way – seeking out support or motivation from others can help give you that little extra boost when you’re struggling to be productive.

Face your fears and take risks

Putting things off can sometimes come from a place of discomfort. Maybe the thing that you need to do requires you to step out of your comfort zone or take a risk. This discomfort can lead us to close in on ourselves and shove the issue aside. But putting it off is only going to make this feeling worse. Following our previous steps can help break things down a little to make the task less daunting. Whether that’s making a list of subtasks that are a little more comfortable, reaching out to a friend or remembering your goals and why you are doing this, know that you can do anything you set your mind to.

Stop procrastinating

We know that this is much easier said than done, but there are some practical things you can do to stop procrastinating. One of the most common things people do to procrastinate is go on their phones. Solution: put your phone in another room or, if you think you might still be tempted, then hand it over to a friend or family member. If you tend to get distracted by things like Netflix or YouTube, then there are apps that can blacklist certain websites for a set amount of time, preventing you from using them. Setting realistic time frames to work can also help you stay energised and focused. Believe it or not, but procrastination can actually be pretty draining. Most of the time, we aren’t actually doing things we like to do when we procrastinate. So, if you’re going to take a break, then make it worth it. Do something you love in that time, instead of mindlessly scrolling through your phone. Chances are you’ll come back from your break feeling refreshed and ready to get going!