“Procrastination is the thief of time.” — Edward Young (1683–1765)
Yes, yes it is. And checking out the dates of the author of this truism shows that time-wasting is hardly a modern problem.
Still, arguably, time feels more limited than ever in the 21st century, so if you’re a born procrastinator (or just looking to get more done in the time you have without burning out) here are nine tips to try…
Master your to-do list
The act of writing a daily to-do list focuses you on exactly what you want to achieve. Then, having written the list, it helps to keep you ‘on task’, acting as a reminder that you intended to do something more productive than scrolling through Instagram or endless TikToks. The secrets of a good to-do list are:
- Keep it short (i.e. what can you realistically do in the time you have).
- Number each item in order of priority.
- Write it the day before so that you can start each day on task #1 (and not on writing your list).
OR, alternatively…
Do away with a to-do list altogether
Not everyone likes a list and maybe your daily tasks are fairly standardised. In which case, instead of a to-do list, set up a productive schedule for your average day. The advantage here is that once a routine is established, it’s easier to stick to.
Don’t start the day by checking email or social media
Yes, most of us do it. And no, it doesn’t help. In fact, it’s an almost perfect way to get sucked into a non-productive activity that potentially has no end (the scrolling never stops!) Unless social media is your actual job, it’s basically just an endless supply of distractions.
In fact…
Turn off your social media (and other) notifications
Interruptions are a procrastinator’s delight. If that sounds like you, switch them off. Do you need to know every time you get an email or someone posts on social media? Unless your productivity depends on it, turn it off!
Task-batching
Every time you switch between different activities, there’s a drop in productivity as the brain adjusts to the new focus or requirements. The answer is to group similar tasks together (in your to-do list or daily schedule) and do them in batches. Keep the flow going.
Less meetings
Think about the last few meetings you attended. Was dialogue and interaction necessary (problem-solving, strategising, planning, etc.)? Or were you all just waiting for your turn to speak and update everyone else (which can be done via a number of less time-consuming communication methods)?
Take a break
Yes, this sounds a bit counterintuitive but the brain benefits from short rests; especially if you’re working in front of a screen. Try the Pomodoro Technique, which has you working in short ‘sprints’ of activity lasting 25 minutes followed by a short 3/5-minute break to improve focus and concentration.
Stop insisting on perfection
Of course, this depends on the type of task you’re doing (brain surgery probably doesn’t fall into the ‘good enough is good enough’ category!) but usually perfection is impossible anyway so working to whatever quality requirement applies is all that’s needed. If you want to be outstanding, just aim to beat that standard by a little – it’s enough.
Stop trying to multitask
Even though it’s widely seen as ineffective (and results in lesser quality results) many of us still try to do more than one thing at a time – an even get a ‘look how productive I am’ kick out of doing so. Focus. Besides, you’re not actually multitasking, you’re just rapidly jumping from one thing to another and back again. That’s busy, but it’s not productive.
If you want (or need) to dig deeper in how you manage your time, check out our free taster webinar “Time & Priority Management” on 24th January 2025, 10:00am. Sign up here or, if you’re interested in time management training or coaching for your organisation, give us a call on 01582 463460; we’re here to help.
