I'll Write This Blog Post Tomorrow

Like many people, I sometimes struggle with the urge to procrastinate. It's amazing how tempting it can be to postpone even the most pressing tasks.

Here is a video from ASAPScience explaining some of the science behind productivity, as well as some insight on how to avoid procrastination. It's informative, funny and short.

When I have trouble focusing, I will often force myself to alternate between "work" and "break" activities. On this schedule, "work" means doing activities that I would normally put off and "break" means doing activities that are low stress and more fun (like writing this article).

My "easy" version of this schedule is to work every hour and half hour for ten minutes, taking twenty minute breaks after each work session (like this). This may seem indulgent, but it ends up being effective because each ten minute work session is extremely intense.

My "medium" version is to alternate between equal fifteen minute breaks and work sessions (like this). Usually this doesn't work very well for me; either the breaks or the work sessions feel a little too long.

My "hard" version is to alternate between twenty minute work sessions and ten minute breaks (like this). This seems to work best when I am completing a task that requires attention for longer periods of time. If I need to "get into" a project in order to do it well, I might approach it this way.

None of these represent a perfect solution, but they all help me stay on top of things without pulling my hair out. In the end, it feels good to get things done.

And now I guess I should get back to work.

EDIT 2013-11-24, 9:14pm:

A friend of mine just sent me a link to a two-part article about procrastination from Wait but Why. It is excellent. Be sure to read both parts One and Two.