I speak from personal experience when I say productivity and procrastination can be incredibly hard to deal with, it's often the case that you will make one step forward and then take two steps back. To help combat this I have outlined three different principles below that you may find beneficial and wish to research further.
I would like to add that there is no quick fix, it takes purposeful, intentional actions that you can uphold consistently, and only then will you start to notice differences.
Newton's First Law of Motion
If you want to increase your productivity, you need to tackle procrastination head-on. Procrastination is often the result of feeling overwhelmed by a task, which can be caused by looking at it from too large of a scope or feeling like you don't have the skills necessary to complete it. Breaking a task down into smaller, more manageable pieces can help reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed and make it easier to get started. Once you start working on a task, Newton's First Law of Motion can help keep you focused and motivated. The First Law states that an object in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force. In other words, once you get started on a task, it becomes easier to keep going and see it through to completion.
Parkinson's Law
Parkinson's Law states that work expands to fill the time available for its completion, which can have a negative impact on productivity.
However, there are ways to overcome this tendency and increase productivity, such as breaking up tasks into smaller chunks, setting deadlines, and using time-management techniques.
By understanding Parkinson's Law and how it affects us, we can be better equipped to manage our time and achieve our goals.
Implementing even small changes in our daily routine can make a big difference in our overall productivity levels.
The Pareto Principle
The Pareto Principle is a principle that states that 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. This principle can be applied to productivity and procrastination – for example, 80% of your productivity may come from just 20% of your effort.
To increase your productivity, you should focus on the tasks that give you the most results. By focusing on the most important tasks, you can make sure that you are using your time effectively and avoiding procrastination.
To tackle procrastination, use the Pareto Principle to help identify which tasks are most important to you. By focusing on these tasks, you can make progress toward your goals and avoid procrastination altogether.
Further Advice
Understand your triggers: what causes you to procrastinate? Is it a certain task, type of task, time of day, etc.? Once you know your triggers, you can start to develop strategies for avoiding or coping with them.
Set small, achievable goals: rather than trying to do everything at once, focus on completing one small task at a time. This will help you avoid feeling overwhelmed and increase your sense of accomplishment.
Develop a routine: establish set times for working on tasks and stick to them as much as possible. This will help train your brain to associate certain activities with certain times of day, making it easier to get into the flow state.
Take breaks: when you start feeling overwhelmed or bogged down, take a few minutes to step away from your work and clear your head. Sometimes all it takes is a short break to refresh yourself and get back on track.
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