5 Ways to Manage Procrastination During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all our lives in many profound ways. The typical social distancing practices, quarantine, and increasing stress rate due to health issues have left many of us unmotivated, feeling lost, and less productive. These consequences are nudging many of us ever closer into the trap of procrastination, which is often confused with laziness. In general terms, laziness is a feeling of not doing anything, whereas procrastination involves the bad habit of leaving some critical actions pending for no real reason.

In the moment, procrastination may give a fleeting pleasant feeling as you avoid doing a task that you do not like. But in the long run, putting something important off could be more stressful. Here are five essential ways to help you manage the habit of procrastination during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Set simple routine goals. Living a goal-oriented life has several benefits. It helps people become more organized and can also help you track your progress in terms of goals achieved daily. Goal setting is the best way to prevent confusion regarding what needs to be accomplished first and bring personal affirmation and validation for your goals. But one should always take care to set up realistic and achievable goals so that you can feel positive while accomplishing them.
• Set a deadline for your work. Setting particular deadlines for your routine work may help you feel the right pressure to finish it on time. It will help you avoid falling into the trap of “I will do it later.” Moreover, you will be able to make the best use of available time while staying encouraged and prepared to handle it well. Setting a deadline is the best way to avoid leaving your work for tomorrow, and hence, you will naturally be more productive in life.
• Spare time for yourself. Sparing some “Me Time” is the most important practice to help avoid procrastination, and it can improve your general lifestyle as well. When you take care of yourself, you get better strength and determination to handle life’s challenges. But first of all, you should understand that self-care is not like being selfish; so, you should not feel guilty about it. Instead, it is the best way to uplift your energies and mood so that you can perform better in your personal and professional life.
• Be aware of the consequences. It is crucial to be mindful of the consequences associated with procrastination. It may create the desired amount of pressure on your mind to get the work done on time. This tactic is vital in helping you stop wasting time while accomplishing tasks on time. Furthermore, being aware of the consequences may help you to enhance your motivation, energy, and productivity levels.
• Prioritize difficult tasks. The best way to avoid procrastination is to prioritize tasks, especially those that are difficult to handle. When you begin with the easier tasks first, it may lead to poor time management, and you may not allow yourself adequate time to handle the difficult ones later. Moreover, difficult tasks need more energy and focus; therefore, it is better to do them first.