The best way to stop delaying tasks is to find something enjoyable or meaningful in them. That’s the only way to thwart procrastination, according to Fuschia Sirois of Bishop’s University.
Photo by Evan
We have covered several ways to deal with procrastination, and science tells us that it isn’t all about time management. The Fast Co. Design article points to some researchers who believe procrastination has emotional roots, where a task is delayed because you’re not in the mood for it now, but you fool yourself into believing you will be in that mood later.
To counter this, the article presents what Sirois proposes:
The best strategy for addressing procrastination is to find something enjoyable or meaningful in whatever task is before you. Easier said than done, for sure. But if you can make that chore or assignment almost as pleasant as, say, reading a book of Twain quotes, then maybe you’ll only put it off until tomorrow. You’ll have the whole day after to thank yourself.
The full article is worth reading as it explores a study where participants were given different types of deadlines to complete the same task, and those with self-imposed deadlines performed the worst.
Self-Imposed Deadlines Don’t Stop Procrastination. Here’s What Might. [Fast Co. Design]
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