Mastering Productivity: Strategies to Stop Procrastinating 💼✅

Laurence Paquette
3 min readMay 26, 2024

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Do you ever find yourself spending an entire day doing everything except what you should be doing? You’re not alone. I used to be an expert at procrastination, capable of spending hours on tasks that don’t matter while neglecting the important ones. By the end of the day, I’d feel like I accomplished nothing. Sound familiar?

If so, don’t worry — I’ve discovered some effective tricks to boost productivity, and I’m excited to share them with you.

1. Understanding the Why Behind Procrastination
The first and most important step in overcoming procrastination is understanding why it happens. We tend to procrastinate when a task brings discomfort or anxiety. Whenever I catch myself procrastinating, I pause to evaluate what’s making me uncomfortable about the task. Identifying the root cause helps me address it head-on.

2. Prioritizing Tasks Effectively
When I feel overwhelmed by tasks, I categorize them into four groups:

  • Urgent and Important
  • Important but Not Urgent
  • Urgent but Not Important
  • Not Urgent and Not Important

This method allows me to focus on the tasks that truly matter. I always tackle the urgent and important tasks first, followed by the important but not urgent ones. Anything urgent but not important can wait because it’s not significant enough yet.

3. Using Time Blocks
Time blocking has been a game-changer for me. Instead of planning my entire day, which often leads to procrastination, I block out 30-minute chunks to focus on a single task. This creates a sense of urgency and helps me stay on track. Scheduling rewards at the end of these blocks also motivates me to complete my tasks.

4. Minimizing Distractions
During these focused time blocks, I minimize distractions by putting my phone face down, closing my emails, and concentrating solely on the task at hand. This undivided attention boosts my productivity significantly.

5. Implementing Daily Routines
To maintain productivity, it’s essential to have a consistent daily routine. I start my day with a morning ritual that sets the tone for the rest of the day. By training and preparing before everyone else is up, I achieve early accomplishments, which boosts my dopamine levels and keeps me motivated.

6. Delegating and Automating Tasks
Delegation and automation are crucial for maintaining productivity. I delegate tasks that others can handle and automate repetitive ones. Bundling small tasks into time blocks allows me to accomplish more in less time. Whenever possible, I multitask — for example, walking the dog while listening to an audiobook or doing the laundry while catching up on articles.

7. Taking Care of Mental and Physical Health
Finally, maintaining both mental and physical health is critical for sustained productivity. I exercise daily and take regular mental breaks. Just like running a marathon, we can’t be at our best without proper rest and recovery.

Conclusion: Embrace the Journey
Remember, if you find yourself procrastinating, it’s not the end of the world. Sometimes, we simply need a break. By understanding the reasons behind our procrastination and implementing these strategies, we can transform our habits and become more productive.

you said tomorrow yesterday
Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Check out my youtube: Laurence on Youtube

Checkout my website: https://www.laurencepaquette.com/

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