How to Beat Procrastination with Mind Control

A new study could hold the solution to all of your procrastination woes. Don't put off reading this, read it now. It might just change your life. Even if it doesn't, it will change the way you think.

Procrastination is not a new problem. Marcus Aurelius wrote about it, inviting readers to "Think of all the years passed by in which you said to yourself 'I'll do it tomorrow'." Buddha taught to avoid it, calling procrastination a bargain against death.

The putting off till tomorrow what should be done today has probably been discussed and dissected since the second day of human history, when man first thought to himself, 'Dang, I really should have finished this yesterday!'

A new study, published by the Association for Psychological Science, has found that our tendency to procrastinate is largely tied to how we think about a task. Do you think of your upcoming projects in vague, non-specific terms? Chances are high that you'll put it off, waiting till the last minute - if you get around to it at all.

The research shows that thinking about upcoming projects in a concrete, task oriented manner is the key to beating procrastination. "As a result," the study says, "individuals are quicker to identify opportunities to act, initiate responses, and complete assigned tasks prior to a deadline."

The idea isn't necessarily new. Productivity expert David Allen, author of the best seller Getting Things Done, describes such thinking as a core element in the GTD system. His system describes finding 'next-actions', breaking down projects into smaller steps.

Productivity blogger (and GTD devotee) Merlin Mann explains this pretty well. "How you articulate an activity or how you choose to frame a project within the context of your larger life and work will say a lot about how successful you can be," writes Merlin. "This starts with simple things like beginning next actions with a physical verb."

So, in the spirit of these new findings, here's a quick list of steps to take in order to make this new thought process a habit.

1. Figure out what needs to be done in the near future.

Look at assignments that are due in the next week. These might be major projects or just regular assignments. Initially, limit yourself to the projects that are coming up soon, the items that you should be working on right now. As you make this a habit you'll naturally begin to apply these steps to every assignment you get, as each comes in.

2. Find a 'finish line' for each project.

First and foremost, you need to have a concrete idea of what you're trying to accomplish. If you don't know what you're trying to do, it'll be a whole lot harder to get it done, and far easier to put it off. Lacking a defined end definitely falls into the category of abstract thinking, and that's what gets you into procrastination trouble.

3. Figure out at least three steps that must be taken to complete each project.

Start with your end goal and work backwards. If your end goal is to have a snack, your plan might include such steps as getting off of the couch, walking to the fridge, opening the fridge, extracting from the fridge your snack of choice, and then returning to the couch to enjoy said snack.

If it's a writing assignment, look at the parts that will need to be assembled to make your finished piece of writing. You'll need to find a specific topic, relevant research, and a properly structured piece of writing about your topic and research.

4. Simplify your steps into a checklist.

Take your list of steps and make each item as basic and direct as you can. Don't obsess over it, but jot it down onto a short checklist. In the writing assignment example your list may look something like this:
- Find/brainstorm a topic
- Find x number of relevant details about the topic.
- Write a 600 word essay, using the research above.

5. Use this same process as part of your regular planning.

The findings of this study are important not because it explains why some people might have procrastinated in an isolated incident, but to explore also how our own thinking leads us to put things off.

If you want to apply this to your own life, find a way to change your own thinking. Maybe it's a sticky note that you put in your planner. You could use a detailed organizational system like Getting Things Done, or something as simple as jotting things down in a planner and adding a couple of "action steps". However you do it, this simple change in your thought processes should lead to higher productivity, and less stress.