Break Your Habit of Avoidance and Discover More Time and Less Stress

The tendency to put things off until later becomes habitual very quickly. Once it does, your ability to perform successfully is gradually diminished. It's a hard habit to break, though. But it may be conquered with a well-thought-out strategy and an honest evaluation of one's own abilities.

When you make the decision to stop putting things off until later, go easy on yourself. You might not even be aware of all the ways you put things off until later because they're so embedded in your habits.

First things first: if you're faced with a big or difficult assignment, divide it into smaller, more manageable pieces. Keep in mind that even the biggest, most daunting projects are really only the sum of their smaller parts.

If you want to improve your time management abilities and stop putting things off until the last minute, tell someone else that you're going to do it. It can be really beneficial to have other people join in by checking in on your work, helping you set deadlines, or assessing your outcomes. In all likelihood, this will cause you to resolve to meet the standards they've established for you.

Make a pact with yourself to better manage your time. Make sure you set aside time every day to focus on the project when you have a deadline coming up. That way, you won't be caught off guard in the last few hours or days. When you're feeling overloaded, learn to ask for assistance.

When you do well or reach a goal, reward yourself. Reward yourself for small victories along the way, rather than waiting until you've reached the big goal. Verify that you will actually like doing the task for the reward. Do something kind for yourself and read the latest book by your favorite author. Unwind with soothing music or a bubble bath. If you're used to staying late at the office, break the habit and get home on time every night.

You can quickly find more time, be more comfortable and productive, and experience less stress if you commit to eliminating the avoidance behavior.