What do you do to stop procrastinating?
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$9 Answers
Write it in red pen, photo copy it and stick it in the top three places you are often (bathroom mirror, fridge, by your bed) then take the list in RED and place it next to where you are the most ( if your a writer, I am assuming your computer is a good place to start). Having something in front of you can help a lot.
Make sure the list includes EVERYTHING you need to do, both simple and hard.
Now find one simple thing that is on your list and do it! Take a pen and cross it off. It feels really good to get things accomplished, you may be motivated to do another, then another. Just stick with your goals and practice. Consider rewarding yourself when you reach a certain point.
As for the ADD, don't let that get in your way. Just keep telling yourself you can do it. Check out Goal For it .com : http://www.goalforit.com/ they have some great resources and free print outs that can help you reach your goals! They also send you a daily e-mail reminder.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
I have learned a lot since then.
If you are like I was, then your trouble is with pushing yourself to do things when there is, in a sense, time left in which the job does not have to be done. The trouble is, as you get busier, stuff needs to be done all the time. If you have bad time management practices, things get rough.
The biggest help is to prioritize your tasks and schedule them. As the other person said, making to do lists helps. But so does getting a big calendar and physically writing all of your jobs on it.
I set deadlines for each assignment that I get. One week to 10 days, depending on length. I set my personal deadline one or two days before the final deadline. I like to have enough time in case something comes up.
I plan my days meticulously. I don't like to check more than one paper a day - and I know that if I push myself too hard it will just wear me out for the next day, so I set my goals for each day at what I can realistically expect myself to get done. I decide what I want to do in the morning, and what I will get done after lunch.
If you plan your week out, and you schedule your jobs then you will find that bigger work loads get to be more manageable. Procrastination makes life miserable and stressful. If you put off something today, you have to do it tomorrow and you probably already have stuff to do tomorrow.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
It is a bit strange but I haven't really procrastinated my writing work as such (I am a freelance writer), yet that is, and somehow I never get the feel of it either! I mean, all the credit goes to the fact that I end up doing what I love. I am super excited in the mornings, all ready to delve in to the huge wonderland which can be accessed through my laptop's window! :)
Try finding something that you love about in your proofreading work, and stick to it. You need something called *motivation*, that sometimes is lacking in us, just like vitamins do. Grab your motivation from bits and pieces, whatever you can get, like praise for your work, thankfulness for your before-time delivery, bonuses for the good work etc. and feed on it. Procrastination will go away automatically once motivated action comes into the picture. Really, go try!
-Browneyed.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
1. Plan a little bit and start doing it.
2. Avoid blowing a task out of proportion.
3. Take the first step, and focus on it and nothing else. By doing this you change your mental state from resistant to "hey, I'm doing this, cool." You will be in a positive state and open. This will help you go another step and next step after that.
4. Start doing the hardest task of the day. By doing this you will feel relieved and relaxes and at the same time feel good about yourself. Your to-do list will tend to become lighter and easier to move through.
5. Make any decision, be a decisive human and take action from that decision.
6. Don't be afraid to face your fear. Even if you are going to make difficult choices but making one will make you feel more alive.
7. Finish a task that you have started. Not finishing a task makes you feel bad. You will feel fatigued and stressed . By finishing certain tasks you will feel a lot better.
8.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
1. Wake up at the same time every morning
2. Make a morning habit, like going for a walk, run, or reading the paper/doing the crossword over coffee and the news
3. Get yourself moving by doing any personal work that needs to be done. Answer emails, make phone calls, pay bill, laundry, clean, care for pets, etc.
4. Dive into your work! The biggest tip I have for self-motivation is A. MUSIC, throw on some upbeat music to help get you excited, and B. Something to look forward to afterward. Tell yourself you cannot check your email/facebook/twitter until this work is done! You cannot watch your favorite TV program or go out with friends until your work is done. Think of how much more free time you'll have for other things if you didn't procrastinate.
5. CREATE: find things to put into your schedule for late afternoons/evenings (whenever) to help motivate you to finish your work. Gym, movie, dinner with friends, dance/guitar/etc lessons, night class at local community college to learn a new language! Ideally something you're not supposed to miss (sometimes the gym is easily tossed aside, but pre-paid lessons is not!)
Good luck!
Hope this helps
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
1. I stop and think, what am I procastinating about
2. Think about it a moment, and figure out how long do I think it will take to get it done
3. Think about what it is I have to do, go over the absolute top level tasks to get it done
4. By this time I find I have a basic solution and so I go and do it.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Another list for the things that I have to do.
And another list of things that I need to remember.
There is sometimes a fourth list that contains the things that I need to get done ASAP.
The lists help as they are constant reminders. I cross the items off the lists as they get done however the lists rarely seem to get shorter, just longer. LOL
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
I have to confess that, I still sleep one hour in the morning letting every thing else to wait. Also, a list of to do things is helpful. But make sure it is not a big list of things to do on one day.
Create deadlines for each of my assignments is also helpful to me.
My life and experience
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
1. The first thing you should do is create your own deadline for each assignment.
2. Express to your clients how important it is that they give you a deadline.
3. You definitely need to turn that mental list into a checklist. You can do this either by handwriting on paper or type it up and print it out - checking off each item as you complete it.
4. Stick to it and when those "extremely important" distractions come up, finish those and get back to your checklist immediately.
--
What do you do to stop procrastinating?
I have a problem getting things done when I don't have a deadline (and, as a freelance proofreader, deadlines aren't clear or are never expressed). My problem is that I have a mental to do list and then, while I'm trying to do the listed tasks, some other insignificant things come along and get all of my attention. I know I might have ADHD but, excluding this for now, how do I stop procrastinating? Any tips, ideas, suggestions?
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
That is a really fantastic website, thank you!
If you can't tell, I have the same problem sometimes! It has stuff for kids also, if you need it.