Procrastination is a common problem that affects almost everyone at some point in their lives. It’s easy to get distracted by instant gratification and put off tasks that require effort or sacrifice in the short term.
However, procrastination can have negative consequences on our productivity, mental health, and overall well-being. The good news is that there are strategies we can use to stop procrastination in its tracks and optimize our productivity.
In this blog post, we’ll explore three strategies recommended by productivity expert Nir Eyal on his Twitter thread. These strategies can help you overcome procrastination.
Think About Your Future Mental State
One of the reasons we procrastinate is that we assume that we’ll be in a better mental state to complete a task in the future. But, this assumption is often wrong, and we may end up feeling even more stressed and overwhelmed later on.
To combat this tendency, Eyal recommends consciously evaluating your future mental state and using it as motivation to do the things you want to do today. By recognizing the dependability of your future self, you can shift your mindset and prioritize your goals in the present.
Make a Pre-Commitment Pact
A pre-commitment pact is a promise to yourself that locks you into a future decision. It’s a way of creating accountability and making it more difficult to procrastinate. Eyal suggests using different tools to create pre-commitment pacts, such as scheduling tools, accountability buddies, or even cash wagers.
By committing to a future decision, you can reduce the likelihood of procrastination and increase your sense of responsibility and commitment to your goals.
Chunk Big Goals
Big goals can be overwhelming, and the longer it takes to see results, the more likely we are to procrastinate. To combat this tendency, Eyal recommends breaking big goals into smaller tasks or “chunks.”
By focusing on one chunk at a time, you can reduce the sense of overwhelm and increase your sense of accomplishment and progress. Additionally, by completing each chunk, you’ll receive a small reward, which can help motivate you to continue working towards your goal.
Conclusion
Procrastination can be a difficult habit to break, but by implementing these three strategies recommended by Nir Eyal, you can stop procrastination in its tracks and optimize your productivity.
By thinking about your future mental state, making a pre-commitment pact, and chunking big goals, you can overcome the psychological factors that drive procrastination. So, start implementing these strategies today!
