In his blog Wait But Why, professional writer Tim Urban introduced us to the term “Dark Playground” to describe the feeling of guilt and panic one feels when they find themselves delaying a task.

Here’s how you can avoid procrastination.

1. Make a Timeline

Urban is a self-proclaimed “Master Procrastinator” due to an incident he shared during a TED talk. Relating the story, the writer said that he once had a year to do a 90-page senior thesis. However, instead of spanning the steps across months, he kept putting it off until he only had three days until the deadline. Long story short: he pulled two all-nighters to get it out the door only to fail miserably in the end.

To not end up like Urban did back then, one must set goals on a time-constrained task. For a major project, you could divide the tasks on a calendar. For smaller ones, like academic essays, you can plan a layout and designate mini-deadlines to each part. Set reminders on your phone for extra measure.

2. Stay Focused

Procrastination feeds upon distractions. The logic behind this is simple: when you put something you want to do in close proximity to something you should be doing, your priorities are at risk of going askew.

To stop procrastination, remove all disruptions by turning off your phone to avoid phone calls and social media, lock your room to keep interruptions at bay, turn on an instrumental tune to muffle noise in your vicinity, or head over to your local library.

If you live on a college campus, a designated study hub of some sort could also be a good idea.

3. Attend Hypnosis Sessions to Stop Procrastinating

Hypnosiscan help a person overcome procrastination by suggesting positive behavioral changes .  So, when you learn a certain habit by tapping into your subconscious mind, your therapist’s next task would be to work upon that habit and make it stick with you for good.

Recommended Read: Hypnosis for Procrastination: Does it Work?

Let us know if you’re interested in exploring subconscious mind healing techniques. Our Certified Hypnotist and Rehabilitation Counselor, Rekha, has spent more than 20 years in mental health services, and she’ll make sure you keep your eyes on the prize at all times.

Schedule a free virtual or in-person consultation in Rochester, New York.