Since the lockdown, many of us are feeling sluggish and struggling to get things done. Procrastination is a common difficulty and it seems to get worse with stress and fear of the unknown. When we have an important deadline, or we are afraid of failure – our brains are wired to find a way out and we keep working.  

How do we override this stagnation response? Here’s a strategy to teach your mind to stop procrastinating:

1. Stress management. As the stress piles up, we begin to procrastinate to avoid the overwhelm. The crazy thing is that we create more overwhelm because we are not getting the job done. When you start to feel “stuck” or you find your mind wandering, immediately find a way to de-stress. One simple solution is to practice 10 deep breaths into the stomach to instantly turn on the parasympathetic nervous system. This can be done without leaving your desk! Check out my video How to instantly achieve a calm state
2. Overcome Boredom. After 3 hours of doing the same task, our memory and concentration decrease dramatically. If we can change tasks by focusing on another job or taking a break, we shift gears and become more productive once we begin our original task again.
3. Sleep and Exercise Balance. Make sure that you are getting enough sleep every day and exercise regularly (cardiovascular exercise especially). If you find your mind wandering, stop what you are doing and go for a walk or run or get on that yoga mat for a few sun salutations. Getting an endorphin boost and energy and O2 jolt will ensure you return to your tasks with a renewed outlook and greater focus.

For more information, check out my video 3 Tips to Get Productive

Try this strategy for a week and let me know how you feel and how productive you are in the comments below.