Understand the enemy
So you think you perform better under a tight
deadline? You don't, according to 2011 research from the City University
of New York. Students who procrastinated were also more likely to
exhibit poor planning and organizational skills and reduced working
memory. Get cracking!
Publicize your to-do list
If you tell people you're planning to do something,
you're more likely to actually do it. Hang a whiteboard with your daily
tasks in your office where your colleagues can see. Big project due?
Post on Facebook or Twitter that you're going to tackle it.
Cut the slack
Distractions can disrupt your active neural networks.
So shut your office door, mute your phone, and switch off your e-mail's
pop-up notification feature. Also log out of your Twitter and Facebook
accounts. That way you'll be forced to type in your username and
password.
Work in bursts
Setting a solid 3-hour block to complete a project
will only burn out your brain. Instead, mark off some checkpoints
throughout the project that offer logical stopping points for breaks.
Repeat as necessary
Try these strategies with new projects. The repetition
can help your brain create neural networks that are more impervious to
distraction. Plus, stronger networks can lead to greater efficiency. Not
to mention promotions.
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