Procrastination can be a costly hindrance to your company culture, decreasing your workplace productivity and morale if not managed properly.

From the delaying of work getting done to the demotivating of your people who are simply trying to get work done, it is thus critical to overcome procrastination in your company culture.

How can you overcome procrastination?

Here are 3 key principles you can apply, using the ART acronym:

• Accountability
• Remove distractions
• Timeline

1. Accountability

As self-disciplined and self-driven we can be, we can fall into the trap of procrastination if we are not careful.

This is where accountability can help. With someone keeping us accountable and checking in on how we are doing at work, this can help us stay committed and actually complete what we set out to do. This doesn't have to be just your manager, he/she can be a trusted colleague as well.

Procrastination is oftentimes mistaken as simply slacking off. Although possible, procrastination can also be a form of coping mechanism from workplace anxiety. The person keeping us accountable can also provide the needed support to get us through.

2. Remove distractions

It can be challenging to focus on your work properly if you are constantly distracted, which may lead you to procrastinate from the work.

Consider some practical ways you can remove distractions and stay focused, such as:

• Working in the right space and environment, such as a quiet private room to avoid distractions from people or noise
• Time blocking, scheduling specific time slots dedicated to prioritising and concentrating on specific work tasks
• Turning off unnecessary notifications, such as from your phone and/or computer to eliminate unnecessary interruptions

Removing distractions help you to be truly present with what you are working on at that specific moment, positioning you better to getting it done.

3. Timeline

Consider establishing and committing to a timeline for completing your work tasks.

Be as specific as possible with this, with what needs to be done and by when. In addition to instilling structure for your work completion, this can also help create a needed sense of urgency and discipline to minimise wasted time.

For maximum effectiveness, combine this with the Accountability principle above. Having a trusted accountability partner at work can help and support you in really following through with your established timeline here.

Concluding remarks

Overcoming procrastination is an "ART" that ought to be nurtured in your company culture, where work is done with accountability, distractions removed and committing to a timeline for its completion.

It is natural to be tempted to procrastinate, especially at work. When this happens, reframe your mindset and be driven instead by the future satisfaction and rewards you will reap when you get your work done.

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