Mastering Time: Overcoming Procrastination and Boosting Productivity with Purposeful Strategies

"You may delay, but time will not." - Benjamin Franklin

Do you ever find yourself delaying an important task, only to do something less urgent, more enjoyable, and easier instead? Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

Some studies suggest that procrastination affects around 15%-20% of adults. However, not all for the same reason. Related factors that could contribute to procrastination are personality traits, decision-making styles, time perspectives, emotional regulation, and biological make up.

Whatever the factor, the consequence is that we give the brain what feels good  now, favouring immediate reward over longer term gain.  Although, in the short term, we enjoy what we choose to avoid the important task, in the longer term, our stress levels increase, we are likely to make more mistakes, underperform and do a rush job to complete the project in time. In the workplace particularly, this is far from favourable, likely to cost the business time and money.  

You might think that procrastination was the same for everyone, however, contrary to popular belief, researchers have identified two main groups of procrastinators:

1. Passive Procrastinators: They delay tasks due to struggles with decision-making and taking action.
2. Active Procrastinators: They purposefully delay tasks, believing they work better under pressure.

Experts further categorise procrastinators into:

• Worrier: Puts things off due to worry about challenges or stepping out of their comfort zone.
• Overdoer: Takes on too much and then struggles to find time to complete everything.
• Perfectionist: Avoids tasks due to doubts about completing them perfectly.
• Dreamer: Puts off tasks due to difficulty focusing on details.
• Defier: Dislikes someone dictating their schedule.
• Crisis-Maker: Puts off tasks as they prefer working under the pressure of tight deadlines.

Identifying your procrastination type is the first step towards managing or overcoming it.

One highly regarded method to combat procrastination and enhance productivity is the Pomodoro Technique. Developed in the late 1980s by Francesco Cirillo, this time management method involves working in 25-minute chunks with five-minute breaks in between. After four focused intervals, take a longer break (20-30 minutes) to prevent mental fatigue and promote sustained concentration.

Here are five strategies to help you manage and overcome procrastination:

1. Do the Worst Task First: Tackle the most dreaded task on your list first, and you'll instantly feel more productive and empowered.
2. Create Smaller Chunks: Break down larger tasks into smaller, more manageable ones. Commit to completing just the first chunk and evaluate how you feel afterward.
3. Try the Pomodoro Technique: Work in focused intervals to enhance concentration and productivity while minimising anxiety.
4. Commit Publicly: Share your goals with friends or on social media to create positive pressure and accountability.
5. Give Yourself a Reward: Incentivise productivity by treating yourself to a self-indulgent reward after completing a task.

Mastering time is about understanding your procrastination tendencies and implementing purposeful strategies to work more efficiently. Start today, and watch your productivity soar.