Don’t fall prey to the lure of procrastination. Here are some tips on ways that you can make better use of your time and energy for optimal results.

Procrastination, simply put, is the habit of putting off a task for a later time. Unfortunately, the result is usually a session of rushed work at the last minute, and frantic minutes hurriedly trying to accomplish tasks which would have otherwise been done already had it not been for the delay. Students in particular are familiar with “cramming” for an examination the night before the test.

It doesn’t matter if you’re still a student in school, or if you’re an employee at work, the temptation to put things off is common to all of us. Procrastination and cramming often go hand in hand together as we try to smash a week’s worth of tasks into one day. However, this is stressful for most people, and even those who say they work best under pressure end up feeling tired and defeated.

Having that adrenaline rush may help speed up the work progress, but it’s no guarantee you’ll be able to come up with a decent final output. Why not learn to manage your time more efficiently instead, and guarantee that you’ll end up with brilliant results?

Here are a few tips to help you speed up your tasks so that you don’t cram them all in the final two minutes before the deadline.

1)    Make a To-Do List

Task managers and organizers do have a lot of use, especially for those who juggle several commitments and have a lot on their plate. When stress is added into the equation, it’s sometimes difficult to rely solely on your memory to figure out what it is you have to do next. More often than not, a lot of time is wasted just figuring out what to do next, especially if you’re rushed and faced with several high-priority tasks. Taking the time in advance to prioritize and schedule your time will give you a clearer perspective on what your game plan should be.

2)    Learn How to Speed Read

“It’s a valuable asset, knowing how to speed read, considering that our world is governed by symbols – letters and numbers – which must be read and understood. Imagine how much time people would save over the course of the day or week if they knew and used speed reading techniques,” said Marc Slater, director of 7 Speed Reading. He makes a very valid point: by learning how to speed read, you should be able to cruise through your tasks faster, especially those that require reading and comprehension – which is practically everything, really.

3)    Give Yourself A Reward

One of the more effective methods of making sure you stay on track is to give yourself the promise of a reward. This kind of system works for pets and children as well as adults, and there’s no reason you can’t use it for yourself too. If your company rewards you every month for a job well done then you can give yourself the same motivation for every task you have to do on daily basis. Use the to-do list mentioned in step 1 above and treat yourself to a good cup of coffee when you’ve checked off the items on the list. For larger projects and major accomplishments, get some relief from the stress of your busy life with a massage or spa treatment, or perhaps a weekend at the seaside. You’ll return to your work refreshed and ready to accomplish even more!