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You have a LOT of work to do and you know it. For a month, you have known that a major project or school assignment was due. It’s a couple of days before deadline and you’ve done…..NOTHING! Have you ever had an important task to fulfill, yet when it’s time to accomplish it, you find everything else under the sun to do? Suddenly cleaning that disastrous closet out or alphabetizing your CD and DVD collection become top priorities. Sound familiar?

You may possibly be a procrastinator. Procrastionation by definition is “putting off intentionally or habitually,” according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Oddly enough, there are no concrete statistics on procrastination, so it is assumed that research was put off, also! Whether you have chalked it up to procrastination just being “a part of you,” there are some valid reasons we procrastinate other than “I just don’t feel like it…”

Unpleasant Tasks. Simply put, it’s something that you don’t want or don’t like to do. Most times, though, these tasks aren’t as bad as you think.

Complex Projects.There’s an important project in the works at your job. It’s been deemed to be a major undertaking and you are stressed. Where do you begin?

Indecisiveness. You can’t make up your mind about what or how to carry out a task.

Fear of Failure. You’re afraid of doing something wrong or not measuring up to a standard of perfection that usually self-imposed.

Lack of Focus. You can’t concentrate and maintain focus long enough to complete a task.

Surely, some of these reasons ring a bell. So how do you put off procrastination? See these tips to buckle down and get that work done!

Make daily or weekly lists of your tasks. A list can help you visualize what you need to do.

Prioritize items on your list according to importance. Analyze what needs immediate attention and work your way down your list.

Tackle complex projects effectively. Break projects or assignments into smaller sub-projects to manage tasks better.

Prevent distractions or interruptions before they occur. Turn off your cell phone, radio or television if you know they will distract you. Inform co-workers, family or friends that you are working to cut down on phone calls, visits, etc.

Schedule breaks between your work session. If you’re working on a project at work, schedule a walk around or outside the office for a set amount of time once certain tasks have been completed.

Change your environment. Often it’s hard to focus if we are in uncomfortable settings. Work and home offices are not always the best settings to be productive. If you can’t focus in your normal surroundings, change it up (if you’re allowed)! Try a quiet coffee shop or a bookstore. Remember to do what works best for you.

Do atleast one undesired tasks at the beginning of the day to free up time later. Once one difficult task is completed, you not only have more time to do other things, but you may also feel a sense of accomplishment.

If you still can’t break the habit, try these resources: Procrastination: Why You Do It, What to Do About It by Jane B. Burka, Ph.D. and Lenora M. Yuen, Ph.D. If books aren’t your cup of tea, download the free version of My Life Organized, a task management software, to help you get things in order.

Don’t put off until tomorrow, what you can do today. Be productive!