Ever felt like you're stuck in a never-ending loop of procrastination, to the point where it's crippling your progress?
Well, that was me not so long ago.
Deadlines whooshing by, tasks piling up, anxiety through the roof – procrastination had me in a chokehold.
The problem was I relied too much on intrinsic motivation. I thought, as long as I have the passion and the interest, I can accomplish anything.
But there are days when you just don't feel it. That's when tasks start piling up. I was stuck in this loop until I discovered the concept of extrinsic motivation.
For those who aren't familiar, extrinsic motivation is what pushes you towards specific outcomes or goals. It's driven by external factors like rewards, recognition, or avoiding negative consequences, not necessarily because you want to do the task.
It doesn't necessarily make the task more enjoyable, but it sure helps to get it done.
Here are some ideas from what has worked for me & others around me:
1— Setting SMART goals( Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound)Instead of a vague goal like “Increase sales,” you could aim for “Increase sales by 10% over the next quarter by targeting 5 new major clients in the X industry”.
2— Break big projects into smaller subtasks.Write tasks on sticky notes and remove them as you complete them, or tick them off in a digital daily planner app like Sunsama.Both methods provide a visual way to monitor your progress and boost motivation.
3— Allocate specific time slots for tasks and even breaks.Allocating time slots for tasks creates mini-deadlines, boosting extrinsic motivation.Incorporating breaks also serves as a rewarding system, further enhancing this motivation.
4— Keep a “Done List”.At the end of the day, write down all the tasks you've completed. This offers a sense of accomplishment, which can motivate you to continue progressing. Again, you can use a daily planner like Sunsama to track this list and do a daily check-in, automatically.
Do you have any favorite tactics or apps that keep your motivation high and save you from procrastination? Would love to know.
