9 Ways to End Procrastination
1. Use the Eisenhower Matrix, use it to determine what’s important and urgent.
| Urgent | Not Urgent |
+———————+————————+
| | |
Important | Do (do it now) | Decide (schedule |
| | a time to do it) |
+———————+————————+
| | |
Not Important | Delegate (who | Delete |
| can do it) | (eliminate it) |
+———————+————————+
Best book: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
2. Eat That Frog
Do the most difficult task in the morning.
This builds momentum fast.
Best book: Eat That Frog by Brian Tracey
3. Remove Distraction
Digital:
your phone is your biggest distraction
Put in airplane mode and get it work
Make grayscale your phone’s default color
Physical:
Remove clutter from your workspace
Use noise-cancelling headphones
Social:
Set specific do-not-disturb hours
4. 3-3-3 Method by Oliver Burkeman
Spend 3 hours working on an important project.
Complete 3 shorter urgent tasks/meetings.
Do 3 maintenance task to keep life smoothly.
Best book: Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman
5. 2-Min Rule (by David Allen)
if something less than 2 minutes —
Do it now
Best book: Getting Things Done by David Allen
6. The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins
When you have an impulse to act on a goal, count 5-4-3-2-1 and physically move towards it
This interrupt self-doubts and gets you into action
Best book: The 5 Second Rule - Transform your life, work and confidence with everyday courage by Mel Robbins
7. Pomodoro Technique
Work for 25 minutes, then take a 5 minutes break
Break your work into intervals to enahcen focus
Best book: The Pomodoro Technique by Francesco Cirillo
8. Pickle Jar Theory
Add a finite amount of tasks in a day
Identify what is useful and what is not useful
Best book: Essentialism by Greg McKeown
9. Timeboxing by Nir Eyal
0900hrs to 1200hrs – Deep Focus
1200hrs to 1230hrs – Email
1230hrs to 1300hrs – Lunch
1300hrs to 1500hrs – Meeting
1500hrs to 1600hrs – Break
1600hrs to 1800hrs – Deep Focus
Identify what needs to be done
Group similar tasks together
Put them on your calendar
Stick to your schedule if possible
Adapt the schedule if necessary
Best book: Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life by Nir Eyal