Procrastination may add a sense of ~drama~ to the mundane (at least, that’s what we like to tell ourselves as we mark yet another email “unread”), but it’s not worth the unnecessary stress.
And yet, knowing this, many of us still do it.
A cursory Google search of “how to stop procrastinating” turned up a bunch of been-there-tried-that tips. To get some fresh advice, we decided to open it up to the Poosh team.
Below, we share the procrastination hacks that actually work for us:
1. “Okay, I know this sounds silly, but sending emails stresses me out so much. If I’m not careful, I will just keep pushing that task down my to-do list indefinitely. So, I utilize the “send later” feature in Gmail. For some reason, avoiding the scary “Send” button and instead, scheduling an email, dulls my anxiety enough that it doesn’t feel overwhelming. Even if I’m only scheduling it for five minutes later (LOL I swear I’m an adult).” —Allie, Wellness Editor
2. “Three things help me crack down when I am procrastinating:
1) A good playlist. I need the right vibe to match the moment.
2) A to-do list. I’m an obsessive to-do lister. Maybe it’s the ‘90s in me, but it has to be handwritten with pen on paper.
3) Lemme Focus gummies! I swear these little sweet treats give me a much-needed concentration boost!
Bonus points for when you physically get to cross a task out on your to-do list. It’s just so satisfying!” —Meredith, Senior Manager, E-comm
3. “I love a handwritten to-do list. Constantly being on my phone and laptop—it helps me out everyday to take a minute from the technology I’m always on to handwrite my to-do’s for the day, and as the day goes on, I get such a rewarding feeling to physically cross them off.
I’ve tried Google Docs, notes apps, and more, but for some reason, a written to-do list helps keep me accountable. And the reward hits differently when I cross that item off or check that box—call me ‘old fashioned’ :)” —Rob, Partnerships Director
4. “Similar one here! I’ve never been a ‘to-do list’ person, but I’ve recently found that if I take 15 minutes before I go to bed to write out my day with dedicated time blocks on a notepad, I tend to stick to it. I literally write out my day from 7 to 7. In doing so, I go to bed feeling less stressed, knowing that I’ve made a plan for the day and will end the day with things checked off my list.” —Jess, Brand Partnerships and Marketing
5. “Okay, back here with another one, since I am also a “handwritten to-do list” person, and more people need to know about Remarkable. It’s a tablet that feels like writing on paper, so you get the tactile sensation and satisfaction of handwriting notes and to-do lists but without using any paper.
You can even choose what kind of writing instrument you want to use. Plus, you can organize everything into different folders, sync everything to the cloud, and export as different document types. It’s definitely an investment, but so worth it. A godsend for scatterbrained people like myself.” —Allie, Wellness Editor
6. “Time blocks on my cal! Distractions are so easy, especially when the job involves research on the Internet for pitches, and rabbit holes are hard to avoid. But if I’m on a physical timer, I can stay in tunnel vision. Same with cleaning—if I don’t set a timer per room, it can take me like 10 hours to clean my one-bedroom apartment. Timers keep me hustling.” —Nicole, Managing Editor
7. “The reward system. When I finish X, I can do Y.” —Sarah, Chief Content Officer
