It takes courage when the urge to procrastinate sets in to be able to control it. You will tell us, it’s human, but… Putting off until tomorrow what we have to do that day is the lot of many people. However, when you run a business or hold a managerial position, such an attitude is harmful.
So, how can you get rid of this bad habit and finally stop procrastination which ends up causing permanent stress?
The false pretense of digital “relaxation”
Today, many employees have gotten into the habit of treating themselves to moments of “relaxation” in front of their smartphone, scanning social networks or watching videos under the pretext of de-stressing. However, procrastination is never far away.
According to a study by dzaacom.fr, 72% of workers and students say they procrastinate at work, for an average of 1h54 per day.
These supposedly calming parentheses actually cause anxiety and guilt, because deep in the procrastinator’s consciousness, these feelings remain underlying.
The emergency: an inevitable consequence
What you haven’t done will need to be addressed urgently! According to a survey ofOpinionWay For Jechange.frthe most recurring difficulty linked to procrastination is, for 67% of respondentsthe obligation to complete a task in haste.
These situations are sources of errors, but also of tensions within teams; nothing is more burdensome than having to endure the accusatory gaze of others. As a leader, it is crucial to fight against this habit which can have a snowball effect and lead an entire collective to systematically act in an emergency, which seriously harms productivity. Imposing precise deadlines on everyone remains an essential lever to prevent work from being pushed back.
Become a List Addict
Organizing your days, weeks or months using task lists is an integral part of effective management. This allows you not to get bogged down by discouragement.
- Prioritize: Give an order of importance to each mission with a specific date and time.
- Value: Next to each completed task, congratulate yourself (a smiley face or a “well done” is enough).
At the end of the day, this concrete observation will allow you to approach the next day with renewed determination.
The two minute rule
In his work “Getting Things Done”David Allen advises prioritizing activities that take less than two minutes. Whether it is sending an email, printing a report or following up with a client, this method is an excellent idea because it creates positive momentum to then tackle more complex files. It’s a real workout: you climb one step, then two, then three…
Learn to focus and switch off
Efficiency relies on concentration: finish one task before starting another. Multitasking is often a source of major errors.
To stay focused, don’t let your smartphone notifications distract you. Switch to silent mode or turn off the internet connection. This avoids the temptation to check social media every three minutes. Quitting this addiction is the first step to definitively overcoming procrastination.
