How to Avoid Procrastination at Work

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It’s a pleasure to welcome you today.
My name is Khuyen.

Let me just start by asking you a question: Have you ever been in a situation
where your deadline is only a few minutes away, and you’re working furiously to
finish a task, while silently yelling at yourself “Why didn’t I start it sooner?”? How
did this happen? Was it because you kept putting your job off until the very last
minute? Don’t worry, because I’m here to help you. What I’d like to present to you
today is “How to Avoid Procrastination at Work”. Today’s topic is of particular
interest to those of you who often procrastinate at work. During the next few
minutes we’ll explore some efficient strategies to change this habit of ours. In my
presentation, I’ll focus on three major issues. First, I’ll start off by looking at the
reality of procrastination at work. Next, I’ll bring you up-to-date on dangers of
procrastination at work. Then, I’ll end with how to avoid procrastination at work.
My presentation will take about 5 minutes. There will be time for questions after
my presentation.

So, let me first give you a brief overview of the reality of procrastination at
work. Have a look at the screen. In his book The Procrastination Equation,
researcher Piers Steel pointed out that 95% of us procrastinate to some degree. It
means 9 and a half in 10 people procrastinate at some point in their working life.
When procrastinating, you actively choose to do something less urgent, easier and
more enjoyable instead of the important task you know you should be doing.

Well, that’s the background on the reality of procrastination at work. Let’s

now take a look at its dangers. Research by Sirois published in Self & Identity
found that procrastination negatively affects career, health and relationships.

First, procrastination undermines your career. You’re wasting precious time

on low-priority tasks, working less productively, and losing your job as a result.
The moment you realise you’re procrastinating, you’re already 5 or 10 years older
and nothing has changed - NOTHING. This terrible feeling leads directly to your
damaged health; making you become demotivated, feel depressed, and lose self-
confidence. Consequently, it destroys your relationships. You keep giving empty
promises. Gradually, you lose your co-workers’ trust. They stop offering you
opportunities, because they’re worried that you will procrastinate again.

Ok. After examining this point, let’s turn to how to avoid procrastination at
work, including getting organised, getting some rest, and hanging out with active
people.
1
 Have you ever talked to yourself: “Someday, I’ll organise my messy
Windows Desktop.”? In fact, that someday never comes if you don’t get organised
first. Reorganise your workspace, break your work into smaller and more
manageable steps, and set specific goals with specific deadlines. Secondly, get
some rest. When you finish a difficult task, take your mind off work for 10-15
minutes and allow you to relax, like listening to your favourite songs. And when
you achieve bigger goals, promise yourself a reward – a holiday for instance.
Finally, hang out with active people. Tell your family and friends about your plan
and ask them to check up on you. Not only do they inspire you to take action, they
are also there to support you.

And that brings me to the end of my presentation. I’ll briefly summarise the
main points. I’ve shown you three major issues: first, the reality of procrastination
at work; second, its dangers; and finally, how to avoid it. As you can see, we all
procrastinate at some point in life. As a result, procrastination undermines our
career, damages our health, and destroys our relationships. It’s essential to avoid
procrastination by getting organised, getting some rest, and hanging out with active
people.

As Benjamin Franklin once said, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you
can do today”. Life is short, so be more proactive!

Here are some useful links I recommend you!

Thank you for your attention. I’d be glad to try and answer any questions.