Who has never felt the temptation to postpone work in the office? It seems that almost everyone has, because this habit often comes over, even though we know that putting it off will only increase the workload later on. Sometimes, we feel more comfortable putting off difficult or unpleasant tasks. However, delaying work or usually called "procrastination" can interfere with productivity and result in stress. According to Steel (2007), procrastination is the deliberate postponement of desired activities even though the individual knows that his procrastination behavior can produce adverse effects. But don't worry! In this article, we will discuss some effective strategies to avoid this habit and improve work efficiency in the office. Come on, start changing the habit of procrastinating our work with the following tips! ????????
1. Intention
Intention is the main key in avoiding the habit of procrastinating work. Without a strong intention to change, efforts to avoid procrastination will be difficult to succeed. When you have a strong intention, it means you are ready to change the way of thinking and behavior that has been making you like to procrastinate work. The intention to avoid it can start from being aware of negative impacts, such as increased stress, decreased work quality, and delays in achieving goals.
To reinforce the intention, you can make a commitment with yourself, for example by writing the intention on a piece of paper and sticking it in a visible place every day. In addition, getting support from the closest people can also help strengthen the intention to avoid the habit of delaying work. By having a strong intention, you will be more motivated to change the habit of procrastinating work into a more productive and effective habit.
Read also: https://bit.ly/3UxyvAy
2. Set clear goals
When you have specific, measurable goals, you tend to be more focused and motivated to get work done on time. By setting clear goals, you can also more easily set priorities in your work and avoid unnecessary procrastination. Clear goals also help you to measure work progress and know when is the right time to complete a task. For example, not only set a goal of "completing the report", but also set a goal of "completing the report within two days with good quality". In order for your goals to be clearer to complete work, reported by Jobstreet, you should have a monthly calendar on your desk and write your work on the calendar, so that every time you see it you will continue to be reminded of your work.
3. Use time management techniques
Use appropriate time management methods, such as the pomodoro method which involves dividing work time into short work periods (usually about 25 minutes) followed by short breaks (usually about 5 minutes). This method helps to maintain focus and productivity during the working period. In addition, you can also use the time blocking method which involves dividing time in a daily or weekly schedule into blocks of time directed to perform certain tasks. By allocating time specifically for each task, one can manage time more efficiently.
4. Avoid social media or playing games
This is probably the most difficult, isn't it? Many people, when they get bored at work, tend to access social media. The problem is, if this becomes a habit, they might end up losing track of time and being more busy stalking people than actually working. But if your job is as a social media officer, it's a different story. So, as much as possible, try to avoid accessing social media too often and don't let yourself get addicted to playing games. Set specific times for accessing social media or playing games, for example during break times or outside of work hours. Also, disable notifications from social media or gaming apps to avoid distractions while working. The more you access social media or play games, the more likely you are to procrastinate on your work!
5. Reward yourself
This one tip is no less important, because when you successfully complete a difficult task or work in accordance with the specified time, giving rewards to yourself can be a form of appreciation and motivation. For how to apply it, for example, you can do it by enjoying your favorite food at your favorite restaurant or buying snacks that you have been craving. Remember that rewarding yourself is not just about being material, but also about appreciating your efforts and successes.
Procrastination is an obstacle, even a breaker of the road to success. We all want to be more productive, right? Well, the tips in this article can help you avoid the habit of procrastinating. Come on, be the best!
Sources:
Steel, Piers. 2007. The Nature of Procrastination: A Meta-Analytic and Theoritical Review of Quintessential Self-Regulatory Failure. Psychological Bulletin
Stop! Ini 5 Cara Agar Tidak Menunda Pekerjaan! - JobStreet Indonesia