It’s the end of the day and you’re running out of time. You’re on turbo mode, hoping that you can finish a certain task before the deadline. All the while, you’re scolding yourself for not working on it sooner and you wonder where you lost your focus.

Your mind goes back to the hours you spent checking social media for cat pictures, traipsing to the kitchen for a snack and a cup of coffee, or concentrating on tasks that could’ve been left for tomorrow or next week. If this sounds familiar, it’s because it’s a trap that you’ve fallen into over and again.

Even the most productive of workers procrastinate to some degree. The temptation is stronger when you work from home. After all, there’s no one to breathe down your neck and your bed is beckoning you into its cozy embrace. Neither does it help that the latest season of your favorite series was recently released.

These are common scenarios and it’s comforting to know that you’re not alone. However, you must understand that procrastination will eventually affect the quality of your output and your life. You need to stop it from turning into a habit before it comes back to bite you.

How to Beat Procrastination at Work

Here are reliable tips to keep your tendency to laze around at bay.

Discover the “why”

Before you begin addressing procrastination, you must understand the reasons why you’re doing it.

Perhaps you find a particular task unpleasant or boring, which is why you keep moving it to the end of your to-do list. Maybe you have doubts about your ability to accomplish the job at a standard that satisfies the client.

Once you learn the triggers, you’ll be able to figure out how to counter them.

Take small steps

Don’t have the motivation to work towards your goal? Choose a single item that you have been delaying to do the commit to completing it within the week.

Sometimes, the tiniest step is all it takes to get yourself going. It may be that the reason you’re dallying is that you’re looking at too many things and feel overwhelmed.

Focus on one task, or even a portion of a big project, at a time.

Have more breaks

Some people are under the misconception that working long hours means getting more done. This actually just hurts your productivity by causing you to lose focus (and perhaps damage your eyes).

Taking the right kind of breaks boost brain function and reduce mental fatigue. However, what counts as an optimal break? It’s every 30 to 90 minutes, depending on your job.

Move your body

As previously mentioned, sitting in front of your computer all day isn’t beneficial. Watching TV shows or munching on snacks doesn’t really help either.

It’s better to stand up and do some stretches to get your blood flowing. You might also want to jog in place, walk around your yard, do a few push-ups or perform other types of light exercise. A couple of yoga poses or Zumba moves wouldn’t hurt either.

Minimise any distractions

As much as possible, set up your home office somewhere you can have privacy. Convert an extra room or situate yourself in your bedroom facing away from your bed. When you have limited space, turn off your social media and email notifications at the very least.

Avoid sitting anywhere near the kitchen or television. Use headphones instead of speakers when you want to listen to music to manage the flow of stimulation.

Set regular reminders

Putting too much pressure on yourself may lead you to experience constant anxiety. Then again, the right amount will guide and motivate you.

It might be helpful for you to set up hourly or daily reminders that you should be working on something. There are plenty of apps and tools for this purpose. Google Assistant, Siri or Cortana can prove to be particularly useful.

Find a partner

Having someone on your side encourages you to push harder towards your goals. The moment you start slipping into procrastination, your accountability partner will get you back on track.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be a co-worker too. Maybe you’re living with someone who’s also home-based for the time being. Seek their assistance and do the same for them.

Make it fun

Remote work doesn’t have to be a boring affair. Establish a system where you reward yourself for every task that you complete.

For example, maybe you can have 15 minutes of social media after every article you finish or a piece of candy for every 20 emails you reply to.

Alternating business with pleasure through this method makes any job less daunting.

Where Remote Workmate Fits in the Picture

In addition to providing you with reliable tips, we help you with finding online jobs as well. Now that you no longer procrastinate as much, have you freed up slots in your schedule for another client?

We’ll connect you with an employer through our website. If it’s your first time working remotely and you don’t know where to start, we are able to give you some advice as well.