In short procrastination is a habit if you will, a very bad habit, that consists in putting off something for the next day. Procrastination is to blame for most of our productivity problems and yet it seems that very few people actually do something about it. And this doesn’t solely apply to your personal life either, it just as well happens in your career as well, because chances have it you’ll behave the same way at work as well. Missed opportunities, frenzied work hours, stress, overwhelm, resentment, and guilt are just a few consequences.

I’m pretty sure most of you’ve told yourselves at least once in your life I’ll do it tomorrow, I have the time or tomorrow’s another day. Ok, that’s true, but to paraphrase a common proverb, why put put for tomorrow, what you can do today? It’s safe to say that everybody knows that procrastination is hazardous, but what compels people, like you or myself, to do it? There’s a few reasons why people result to postponements like fear of the unknown, fear of change, perfectionism, fear of failure, disorganization and so on, but probably the most common reason is … laziness. That’s right folks laziness can really be a bugger, some go as far as saying it’s a terrible sickness, I personally think it’s all just a psychological issue.

The key to overcoming procrastination is inner strength, inner strength to motivate ourself on completing a task no matter how big or small it is. However most of us lack a particular strength in character and get sucked away from our goals and plans. Do not despair though there are ways to help pass procrastination and eventually get things done.

1. Take It One Step At a Time

Some tasks, at first glance, may seem simply overwhelming or require a Herculean amount of effort, so in term we don’t do anything, at all. It’s important not to let yourself discouraged by any particular amount of work or pressure involved in an activity; what you need to do is start off slow, in small baby steps, in a revere pyramid style and you’ll soon find that things are actually beginning to shape up. For example the other week, I went in with my dad in the garage to clean up the place. There were wrenches, old car oil stench, used car parts, an old refrigerator, a broken TV and a bunch of other useless crap lying all over the place. I didn’t even know where to start from and it all seem like it was gonna take for ever to clean up the mess. My dad soon approached me and told me “there’s no hurry son, there’s no pressure, we’ll just take it one step at a time and see where we get.” We started off with the floor, then with the stocked up drawers and went to more and more difficult task from there on, until around midnight we finally finished. My garage never looked cleaner. This is not only a methodical technique of getting things done, but also a provider or motivation.

2. You Don’t Need To “Have To,” You Need To “Want To”

If you feel like you “have to” do something you’ll automatically feel a sense of restrainment and negativity, that comes naturally when we’re feeling obliged to do something. This leads to some serious procrastination issues and is most encountered at work. The solution here is to shift your mindset from “have to” to “want to.”Be a firm believer that if you don’t want to do something, then you don’t have to. Simple as that. This might of course have some serious consequences, like loosing your job for instance (in the most extreme cases), but if manage to master the art of avoiding unwanted activities, you won’t have any trouble. There are some unpleasant tasks that we can’t avoid, like work for some (I never could understand why some people would choose to make their living in a field of activity they displease), but even then we can avoid procrastination by tricking our brain. You can do this by finding anything remotely pleasant about what you’re about to do, no matter how small and then think about it all the time, while you pursue the respective unpleasant task. This will cheat your brain into thinking you want to do it, not have to.

3. Brainstorm Your Way Out

A common reason for procrastination is lack of ideas, when dealing with any kind of tasks, that mildly requires some creativity. We’ve all had our days of mind blocks or plateaus, it’s actually fairly common, but if this period of blockage is too long, procrastination can settle in. What you need to do is brainstorm. Go outside have a walk and freshen up, observe and analyze everything you see or encounter. Always bring a ben/pencil or a PDA (for those of you more tech savvy) and start taking notes of what you see. Don’t criticize yourself, write down even the most preposterous ideas your mind might produce, you never know when something brilliant might come up.

4. Time Yourself

I’ve found that many people resort to procrastination because they have to much time on their hands and so they put off things for the next hour, day or even weeks. Go to your desk, grab an alarm timer and set it for 10 minutes, 30 minutes or whatever time you believe is necessary to complete your work. Be sure not to leave too much room though, in example this post in normal conditions might take me 2-3 hours to write, I’ve set my timer for 40 minutes. It’s still ticking. This will help you motivate yourself in completing your work, but also most importantly it will help you focus.

5. Eliminate All Other Distractions

This means no IM, TV, no e-mail, no internet whatsoever (unplugging your chord would be a good idea), no music (for those of you that find it distractive, I personally can work fine with music in my headphones) or anything remotely distractive, that might break your concentration. Anything that might come between you and whatever task your trying to fulfill may disrupt your current activities and thus lead to procrastination. It’s better to avoid this by eliminating anything that might cause you to suddenly abandon your work. However, be careful. Don’t over exaggerate with this and lock yourself from the outside world, from your family and people that care for you.

6. Stop Being A Perfectionist

Another cause of procrastination is perfectionism. It’s natural for us humans to try to be the best at something, but sometimes along the path we can tend to over-react with our ambitions and turn to perfectionism. This way we try complete a task flawlessly from the very beginning, but this takes a lot of work, that in term leads to a lot of stress, which in term leads to procrastination. This is because your brain will soon associate that stress with the respective task and will try to avoid it, most often by postponing it.

It’s important to understand that no one and nothing is perfect. It’s actually the imperfections that make the world around us so beautiful and most of all unique. You can try to write the most complete and helpful article ever or build the perfect software all you won’t, but you’ll never succeed, because there’ll always be room for improvement. Realize that an imperfect job completed today is always superior to the perfect job delayed indefinitely.

簡jian言yan之zhi，拖tuo拉la就jiu是shi一yi種zhong習xi慣guan，一yi種zhong壞huai習xi慣guan
，把ba事shi情qing推tui托tuo到dao以yi後hou幹gan是shi它ta的de主zhu要yao特te征zheng。大da多duo數shu關guan於yu工gong作zuo效xiao率lv的de問wen題ti基ji本ben上shang可ke以yi歸gui咎jiu於yu拖tuo拉la的de毛mao病bing，但dan是shi很hen少shao人ren能neng夠gou對dui這zhe種zhong毛mao病bing實shi際ji的de做zuo一yi些xie努nu力li。 這zhe個ge毛mao病bing並bing不bu會hui隻zhi是shi影ying響xiang你ni的de個ge人ren生sheng活huo
，同tong樣yang會hui影ying響xiang到dao你ni的de事shi業ye，因yin為wei一yi旦dan有you機ji會hui，這zhe個ge毛mao病bing也ye會hui你ni在zai工gong作zuo中zhong表biao現xian出chu來lai。錯cuo過guo機ji遇yu
，加jia班ban加jia點dian
，壓ya力li，折zhe磨mo，抱bao怨yuan，內nei疚jiu就jiu是shi最zui終zhong一yi連lian串chuan的de後hou果guo。

我相信大多數的人曾經在生活中不止一次的告訴自己：我明天再做它，我還有時間，或者是明天以後的某個時間。 OK
，沒錯，但我要用一個諺語說明一下：為什麼是明天，今天不行嗎？（why put put for tomorrow, what you can do today?） 我(wo)可(ke)以(yi)打(da)保(bao)票(piao)的(de)說(shuo)，每(mei)個(ge)人(ren)都(dou)知(zhi)道(dao)拖(tuo)拉(la)不(bu)好(hao)，那(na)究(jiu)竟(jing)是(shi)什(shen)麼(me)讓(rang)人(ren)們(men)，就(jiu)像(xiang)你(ni)自(zi)己(ji)，去(qu)拖(tuo)拉(la)呢(ne)

？有(you)很(hen)多(duo)原(yuan)因(yin)能(neng)導(dao)致(zhi)人(ren)們(men)去(qu)拖(tuo)延(yan)事(shi)情(qing)，例(li)如(ru)對(dui)未(wei)知(zhi)事(shi)物(wu)的(de)恐(kong)懼(ju)，害(hai)怕(pa)改(gai)變(bian)，完(wan)美(mei)主(zhu)義(yi)，害(hai)怕(pa)失(shi)敗(bai)，混(hun)亂(luan)無(wu)序(xu)等(deng)等(deng)
，但(dan)恐(kong)怕(pa)最(zui)常(chang)見(jian)的(de)原(yuan)因(yin)卻(que)是(shi) … 懶惰。確實如此，懶惰是個不好的毛病

，有時候會發展成很嚴重的問題，我個人認為它完全是個心理上的問題。

克服拖拉毛病的關鍵是內在意誌，用內在意誌去激發自己完成一件事情，不管事情大還是小。 但我們大多數都在性格裏缺乏這種意誌，所以才導致我們離目標和計劃越來越遠。 不要沮喪
，還是有方法能夠幫助我們去克服拖拉
、最終讓我們完成我們的該做任務的。

1. 一點一點的做

有 些(xie)任(ren)務(wu)，乍(zha)一(yi)看(kan)，感(gan)覺(jiao)是(shi)無(wu)法(fa)實(shi)現(xian)的(de)，或(huo)是(shi)需(xu)要(yao)莫(mo)大(da)的(de)努(nu)力(li)，於(yu)是(shi)就(jiu)導(dao)致(zhi)我(wo)們(men)竟(jing)然(ran)就(jiu)什(shen)麼(me)都(dou)沒(mei)做(zuo)。我(wo)們(men)千(qian)萬(wan)不(bu)要(yao)因(yin)為(wei)某(mou)些(xie)工(gong)作(zuo)或(huo)壓(ya)力(li)而(er)氣(qi)餒(nei)
，這(zhe)很(hen)重(zhong)要(yao)
；我(wo)們(men)處(chu)理(li)它(ta)們(men)的(de)方(fang)法(fa)應(ying)該(gai)是(shi)逐(zhu)漸(jian)啟(qi)動(dong)，就(jiu)像(xiang)小(xiao)孩(hai)學(xue)走(zou)路(lu)時(shi)最(zui)初(chu)的(de)那(na)一(yi)小(xiao)步(bu)
，采(cai)用(yong)一(yi)種(zhong)倒(dao)金(jin)字(zi)塔(ta)的(de)方(fang)法(fa)，你(ni)很(hen)快(kuai)就(jiu)能(neng)發(fa)現(xian)事(shi)情(qing)正(zheng)在(zai)實(shi)際(ji)的(de)開(kai)始(shi)有(you)雛(chu)形(xing)了(le)。 例li如ru，有you一yi個ge周zhou末mo，我wo跟gen爸ba爸ba一yi起qi走zou進jin車che庫ku準zhun備bei清qing掃sao這zhe個ge地di方fang。扳ban手shou，廢fei油you，用yong過guo的de汽qi車che零ling件jian到dao處chu都dou是shi，一yi個ge舊jiu冰bing箱xiang
，一yi個ge破po損sun的de電dian視shi

，還hai有you一yi堆dui其qi它ta沒mei用yong的de廢fei物wu。我wo真zhen是shi不bu知zhi道dao如ru何he下xia手shou，看kan起qi來lai這zhe是shi個ge永yong遠yuan不bu能neng完wan成cheng的de任ren務wu。爸ba爸ba很hen快kuai走zou過guo來lai告gao訴su我wo：“這裏沒有什麼要緊的事情

，沒有什麼要求，我們隻需要每次做一點，然後看看我們都做完了什麼。“我們從地板開始，然後是那些放東西的抽屜，然後其他越來越麻煩的事情
，這樣
，直到午夜，我們終於完成了。 我們的車庫前所未有的幹淨。這不僅是一種做事情的技術方法學，也是為人父母和激勵人的方法學。

2. 沒有“必須做”，隻有“想要做”

如 果有什麼事情是你感覺是“必須”要做的，那麼你會不由自主的產生一種消極抵觸的情緒，當你感到“被迫”要去做什麼事情是自然會產生這種情緒。 這將會導致一些嚴重的拖拉問題
，大部分發生在工作問題上。 解決這個問題的辦法是將“必須做”的思想傾向轉變成“想要做”。堅信如果你不想做什麼事情
，你就不必去做它。就這麼簡單。當然，這也許會導致一些嚴重的後果
，例如立即丟了你的工作（在極端的情況下）
，但是如果你能掌握如何躲避不想做的事情的藝術時
，這種情況就不會發生。有些不令人高興的事情我們無法避免，例如替別人做事（我一直不明白為什麼有些人要生活在他們不滿意的行業中）
，對於這種事情我們可以用欺騙自己的技巧來避免拖拉。 你(ni)可(ke)以(yi)在(zai)你(ni)將(jiang)要(yao)做(zuo)的(de)任(ren)務(wu)中(zhong)尋(xun)找(zhao)任(ren)何(he)值(zhi)得(de)你(ni)高(gao)興(xing)的(de)方(fang)麵(mian)，哪(na)怕(pa)是(shi)一(yi)點(dian)點(dian)，然(ran)後(hou)你(ni)就(jiu)一(yi)直(zhi)想(xiang)它(ta)
，然(ran)後(hou)再(zai)去(qu)做(zuo)那(na)些(xie)不(bu)高(gao)興(xing)的(de)任(ren)務(wu)。這(zhe)種(zhong)方(fang)法(fa)可(ke)以(yi)騙(pian)過(guo)你(ni)的(de)心(xin)智(zhi)，讓(rang)你(ni)覺(jiao)得(de)你(ni)想(xiang)要(yao)去(qu)做(zuo)它(ta)，而(er)不(bu)是(shi)必(bi)須(xu)做(zuo)。

3. 走出去想辦法

導致拖拉的一個常見的原因是沒有主意，特別是處理某些需要創造性想法的任務。 我們每人都有思路卡殼和暢通的時候，真是很常見，但是如果思路堵塞的時間太長，拖拉就會發生。 你現在需要做的是腦力激蕩。 出去走走，清理一下思想，注意觀察和分析你看到和碰到的任何事情。 拿著筆和本子或者一個PDA（這個需要你知道更多的技術知識），開始描述你看到的東西。 不要挑剔，寫下甚至是最荒唐的主意，隻要是你想到的
，因為你永遠不知道何時絕妙的想法會突然蹦出了。

4. 給自己定時

我 發(fa)現(xian)很(hen)多(duo)人(ren)拖(tuo)拉(la)的(de)原(yuan)因(yin)是(shi)因(yin)為(wei)他(ta)們(men)有(you)太(tai)多(duo)的(de)時(shi)間(jian)，所(suo)以(yi)就(jiu)可(ke)以(yi)把(ba)事(shi)情(qing)推(tui)托(tuo)到(dao)下(xia)一(yi)小(xiao)時(shi)，一(yi)天(tian)，甚(shen)至(zhi)是(shi)一(yi)周(zhou)。你(ni)應(ying)該(gai)走(zou)的(de)辦(ban)公(gong)桌(zhuo)前(qian)，拿(na)起(qi)鬧(nao)鍾(zhong)

，設(she)定(ding)在(zai)10分鍾，30分鍾或其他你覺得你應該能完成你工作的時間。要確保不能留太多的餘地，例如這篇文章在通常的情況下應該會讓我花費2-3小時完成，我就把鬧鍾設置成40分鍾鬧一次。 它現在仍然在走。這將幫助你激發自己去完成工作
，更重要的事情是幫助你集中注意力。

5. 消除所有幹擾

就是讓你關掉聊天工具，電視，不要收email，斷掉任何網絡（最好拔掉網線），關掉音樂（這是針對那些視音樂為幹擾的人，對我有個人
，我戴著耳麥聽音樂感覺良好）以及任何細小的幹擾，任何能影響你注意力的事情。 任何能夠插入你和你計劃要完成的事情中間的事情都會中斷你現有的活動，導致拖拉的產生。 所以我們最好通過消除任何可能導致你突然終止工作的幹擾因素來避免這種情況的發生。 然而，注意。 不要過分與世隔絕
、與你的家人和關心你的人隔絕了。

6. 停止完美主義

另 外一個導致拖拉的因素是完美主義。 nulibashiqingzuodaozuihaoshirendetianxing，danshiyoushihouyanzhezhetiaosiluwomenhuichanshengfanyingguodudeqitu，bianchenglewanmeizhuyizhe。yikaishiwomenjiuxiangzheyaobashiqingzuodewanmeiwuque，danzhehuixuyaohenduodegongzuo
，zuizhongdaozhihendadeyali，yushijiudaozhiletuola。zheshiyinweinidedanaohenkuaijiunengbazhexierenwuhezhexieyalilianxidaoyixie，yushichanshengdichudeyishi，changjiandezuofajiushituichiyanqi。

沒有完 美的人和事物，認識到這一點很重要。 正(zheng)是(shi)因(yin)為(wei)這(zhe)不(bu)完(wan)美(mei)才(cai)讓(rang)我(wo)們(men)周(zhou)圍(wei)這(zhe)個(ge)世(shi)界(jie)變(bian)的(de)如(ru)此(ci)美(mei)麗(li)
，如(ru)此(ci)各(ge)具(ju)特(te)色(se)。你(ni)可(ke)能(neng)會(hui)試(shi)圖(tu)寫(xie)一(yi)篇(pian)最(zui)完(wan)全(quan)的(de)最(zui)有(you)價(jia)值(zhi)的(de)文(wen)章(zhang)或(huo)編(bian)寫(xie)一(yi)個(ge)最(zui)完(wan)美(mei)的(de)軟(ruan)件(jian)，但(dan)你(ni)永(yong)遠(yuan)不(bu)會(hui)成(cheng)功(gong)，因(yin)為(wei)什(shen)麼(me)事(shi)情(qing)都(dou)有(you)可(ke)以(yi)再(zai)改(gai)進(jin)的(de)空(kong)間(jian)。你(ni)要(yao)明(ming)白(bai)，今(jin)天(tian)完(wan)成(cheng)的(de)不(bu)完(wan)美(mei)的(de)工(gong)作(zuo)遠(yuan)優(you)於(yu)無(wu)限(xian)期(qi)拖(tuo)延(yan)的(de)完(wan)美(mei)的(de)工(gong)作(zuo)。