Do you ever have tasks that just never seem to get checked off your to-do list? You know, the things that you know you have to get done but somehow, you can never bring yourself to finish.
The tasks we tend to procrastinate on can range from anything from organizing our desk to making important documents like our wills. In fact, a recent study commissioned by Willful showed that 36% of Canadians would rather organize their desk than complete their wills.
The start of a New Year is a great time to tackle the things we’ve been putting off. While we might feel fine leaving these things on our lists, checking them off can actually take a huge weight off our shoulders.
To help you clear up your list, we’ve rounded up some tips to help you stop procrastinating on your to-do’s.
Write It Down
The easiest tasks to ignore are the one’s floating in the abyss of your brain. A good way to make a to-do official is to write it down on a list. Whether you do this digitally or on a piece of paper, writing it down makes the task feel more real, so you’re more likely to commit to finishing it.
If you’re someone who just tends to forget the things on your list, setting up a notification can serve as an extra reminder to check it off your list. If you prefer to stay analog, consider pinning your physical to-do list to the fridge or setting it on your desk, so you can’t miss it!
Set A Deadline
Setting a hard deadline is a good way to commit to actually finishing a task rather than leave it for ‘tomorrow’. Look at the task and decide for yourself what a reasonable amount of time is required to finish it. Once you’ve set a timeline, put it in your calendar and get to it!
Grab A Friend
The buddy system works for workouts, so why can’t we do the same for other tasks? Grabbing a friend who has a similar to-do can not only make the task at hand more fun, but it also ensures you’ve committed to someone other than yourself. Having a partner can be particularly helpful for tasks that are daunting or difficult.
Making Your Will With Friends And Family →
Identify Why You’re Procrastinating
Sometimes we procrastinate just because we can, but more often than not, there’s something that is keeping us from finishing the task. For example, we often hear from Willful customers that they continue to put off finishing their wills because the topic makes them uncomfortable.
Figuring out the ‘why’ for your procrastination can go a long way in helping to navigate those challenges. Once you know why you don’t want to do something, you’ll be in a better position to find resources that will help and make it more likely for you to complete the task.
If you’re struggling to finish your will, resources like How To Talk To Your Family About End-Of-Life Wishes may help you navigate the conversations around estate planning more comfortably.
Reduce Distractions
If you feel like you’ve started the task 100 times but have never completed it, it’s possible that you’re constantly getting distracted. Minimizing potential distractions can make it so much easier to focus on finishing your tasks. Reducing distractions can include anything from blocking of quiet and alone time, to shutting off the TV when trying to accomplish something.
Distractions can look different for everyone, so take time to identify which ones are preventing you from finishing your task
Plan A Reward
If something is collecting dust on your to-do list, it’s probably safe to say the task isn’t all that enjoyable for you. To help even it out, allow yourself a reward for checking it off your list. It doesn’t have to be extravagant, and can be as simple as treating yourself to a coffee. Sometimes a little self-bribe is all that’s needed to kick your motivation into high gear.
Is estate planning one of the tasks on your to-do list? Check it off your list today and Start For Free →
