Procrastination is one of the biggest roadblocks to getting out of bed, making the correct decisions, and living the life you’ve always imagined. All of our opportunities appear to be right at our fingertips at times, yet we are unable to grasp them. You lose time by procrastinating when you could be doing something more productive. You will be able to do more and better harness the potential that life has to offer if you can defeat this formidable foe.

It can be quite a task to get rid of it, but it’s always the effort that counts, and slowly but steadily, you’ll be able to successfully overcome the need for procrastination.

1. SET A TIMER FOR YOURSELF.

 While it’s important to have others hold you accountable, it’s not always possible. There will always be tasks for which you cannot set deadlines or inform others, but which you must complete nonetheless.

When you’re having trouble concentrating on a task, estimate how long it’ll take and set a timer for that period of time. When you’re tempted to get up, stroll away, or start performing that other duty you just recalled, having a clock truly ticking down to 00:00 can work wonders in helping you refocus. This is especially useful in circumstances where putting off a modest chore causes it to become increasingly overwhelming.

In these cases, setting a timer might actually be a relief since you know that once the timer runs out, the task will be completed.

2. TO DO LISTS.

 Procrastination is a to-do list’s contributor. We have a tendency to give up on jobs when we see a long list of them. The To-Do Today approach is intended to assist you in completing the most important and urgent things each day, as well as prioritizing your workload and limiting new projects. You’ll be able to get a lot more done in a day with less stress and fatigue if you use it.

3. ACCOMPLISH THE WORK GIVEN TEN MINUTES.

 Try telling yourself that you’ll only do it for 10 minutes the next time you postpone it because you’re feeling unmotivated or lazy. Because 10 minutes is such a short period of time, it never seems overwhelming and doesn’t need a lot of motivation. However, it deceives your brain into starting, which is frequently the most difficult obstacle we encounter.

In addition, this amount of time is generally sufficient to get you into the zone for whatever task you’re working on. Most of the time, you’ll want to keep working on that assignment after your 10 minutes are over.

4. UNDERSTANDING PERSONAL VISION.

 One of the main tools is a personal vision; it helps you understand your abilities and priorities, and by developing one, you will never be confused about what you want to achieve in your life. Personal vision also assists you in focusing your efforts on the proper activities and setting priorities in order to prevent you from moving back and forth between tasks. You’ll be able to keep your discipline and make the most of each day if you know what inspires you.

5. KEEP YOUR PHONE AWAY.

 You’re probably familiar with this one. To be fair, you might not be searching for anything or reading an e-mail that just arrived when you pick up your phone.

But once you have that phone in your hands, you’ll probably keep finding yourself browsing through Instagram, reading an unending stream of emails, or checking Whatsapp groups.

Put your phone away — maybe in a different room, or if using the timer, put it across the room, far away from where you’re sitting. If you have to physically get up and walk over to it, you’ll notice that you’re not reaching for it as frequently.