Dealing with Procrastination: My 3 tips for Aspiring Writers
Procrastination can hinder productivity and can cause stress! But don’t worry, you got the power to beat it!
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Procrastination is the act of delaying or postponing tasks or in this case, your writing, because of various reasons such as:
Fear of Failing
Perfectionism
Distractions
Lack of motivation
Luckily, there are strategies to beat procrastination and overcome those feelings of self-doubt. In this blog post, I’ll discuss my 3 ways to dealing with the act of postponing your tasks and become a productive machine! I’ll talk about:
Setting Achievable goals and breaking down Tasks
Create a dedicated Writing space and Routine
Using Accountability tools
Let’s begin!
1. Make Achievable goals and smaller Tasks
Procrastination often stems from feeling overwhelmed from your writing project or from all the tasks you have to do. Instead of setting a vague goal like “write a novel”, break it down and be specific!
the SMART goal system.
Break your big goal of ‘writing a novel’ into smaller bits so you can accomplish them easier!
For example, aim to write a specific number of words per day or focus on finishing a chapter by the end of the week. Even break it down smaller by finishing a paragraph in an hour! Whatever it is, make sure it is achievable by your abilities. Don’t want to make it too hard on yourself!
Additionally, celebrate your small victories along the way to build momentum and motivation. Giving yourself small rewards helps you stay disciplined and committed to your writing goals! WIN!
2. Create your Writing Space!
There’s plenty of research out there backing the theory that a clean, organized environment increases your productivity. Get rid of the clutter that’s over your desk or find a place that inspires you.
Try a cozy corner of your house or room, a café or a park or even the library. Find a spot where you can focus without distractions. Pair this with a consistent writing routine (a dedicated time solely for writing), and you’ll be a productivity powerhouse in no time!
Simple and Clean.
Strive to be organized and clutter-free. This’ll help you beat those procrastination blues because there’ll be less distractions!
Your brain likes simple things. It likes it when there is order. So do your best to keep your place clutter free to help beat procrastination. If you can’t (or if your room looks like a hurricane went through it), go somewhere where you can focus and keep going there (like the library). Your brain will associate that place and that time with productivity—known as priming—and make it easier to get into that writing flow!
3. Grab some Accountability Tools.
Sometimes you just need some help. That’s where tools come into play! Consider downloading apps to track your daily writing habits. There’s plenty on the app store and each come with loads of features to help you stay on track with your writing habits and out of procrastination’s way.
Additionally, you can rally some people on your side! Having a friend or family member rooting for you can be a powerful motivator! You can even join online writing groups or like me join Discord groups or stream on Twitch and gather your own community! (Will you join me in writing? I stream on Twitch Monday-Fridays, 9:30am-3:00pm EST. Would love to see you there!)
Click to view the Infographic!
Staying accountable can be tough but with effort and grit you can do it! Click the infographic to get further tips to staying responsible.
Sharing your progress and providing feedback with others can help you stay on track with your writing goals! With this much accountability, it’s hard to slip into procrastination! With others cheering you on and having your back, you’re more likely to stay committed to your writing journey!
Dr. K is not only a certified psychiatrist but also a gamer! Check out his video to beat the procrastination woes!
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