The majority of us have been affected by procrastination in one way or another. Why does it happen? While some simply define procrastination as laziness, we know procrastinators can become hard workers, especially when they are tracking time while working remotely. What is procrastination? And how can a time clock software help improve it?

Procrastination is a complex behavior with lots of causes that range from stress to lack of productivity or motivation. Another major cause of procrastination is perfectionism. As human beings, we know that we can do a great job if we put our hearts and minds to it. However, nothing will ever be perfect. There will always be room for improvement. 

Procrastination is an unhealthy habit and, like any other unhealthy habit, it can claim too much of our valuable time. In this article, we are going to share with you some of the best tips to beat procrastination in the workplace by using time clock software.

Track Tasks and Break Projects Into Chunks

Big projects are usually the most important tasks in an organization. However, many tend to put them off until the last minute because they are difficult. The best way to handle big projects is by starting your day with them and tracking the time you invest into your tasks. Remember, when you start your day with easy tasks, the harder it will be for you to work on the bigger responsibilities later on. Therefore, start with the big tasks and track your breaks to improve time management. 

By using a time tracking app to clock in when you’re beginning the day and clocking out to conclude, you will gain a better understanding of how productive you are being compared to the time you’re putting in. 

Break your projects into specific chunks of time. For instance, if you're writing a book, don’t think about the entire book but the specific page you're working on. When all the pages are written exceptionally, you will have an excellent book in the end. Keep the big task in mind, yet don’t let it frighten you. When you complete the most complicated jobs, the smaller tasks will not seem so difficult. 

Did you know 90% of American employees feel that taking a lunch break helps them feel refreshed when they get back to work. So, be sure to track time accordingly so you can know when it’s time to take a lunch break.

Eliminate Distractions

Distractions are the No. 1 hurdle when it comes to achieving optimal productivity in the workplace. Distractions promote procrastination. Therefore, if you want to beat procrastination, you have to eliminate distractions. Back in the day, the most common forms of distractions were a knock on the door or a telephone call. Today, things have changed. The tools we use to work are the very tools that can keep us distracted all day long. 

Some of the common distractions in our modern world include social media notifications, emails, text messages, phone calls, chit-chat with colleagues, etc. You can boost your productivity and performance by disabling unimportant notifications on computers and informing your loved ones and colleagues about your plans in advance. 

But, what if we could use these distracting devices to provide us with reminders of when to punch in or out for the day? You will have this option when using time clock software. Simply setup time clock reminders to be sent via email or text message to alert you when you have dedicated enough time to your work. This will allow you to continue productively and avoid staring at the clock. 

Plan Your Hours and Day Accordingly

Research studies show that people who don’t plan their days lose approximately 10 minutes every time they change tasks. Plus, when you fail to plan your day, it’s easy to lose track and spend a lot of time on low-priority tasks. Using a scheduling system provided by your time clock software is a great way to stay on top of your weekly and daily routines. 

As the popular saying goes, failing to plan is planning to fail. Never start your day without scheduling a list of activities arranged in order of priority. The best time to plan your day is the night before or within the first minutes after you wake up. When you have a plan in hand, achieving your goals will not seem like such a complex process.

Reward Yourself

When you complete all your tasks on time and have a visual of your time worked, reward yourself. By celebrating these victories, you’ll condition your mind to associate completing tasks with pleasure. Once the mind is conditioned in this way, it will make it easier for you to sit down and get things done. You can reward yourself by taking a break, going for a short walk, eating your favorite snacks, or spending time with your pets and family members.

How to Improve Procrastination as a Leader

One of the best ways to do this is by pairing your remote employees up to work on specific tasks. When you pair them up, you’ll help create a team that is quickly willing to complete their tasks. Another way to hold employees accountable is by hosting weekly team meetings and asking them about their progress. Another great way to affect time loss is utilizing time tracking tools to monitor hours worked and employee attendance. Your employees shall feel more responsible for what they do and when they do it. It’s important to avoid unhealthy micromanagement, as this can push employees away from their tasks because they don’t feel trusted. 

Recognize Performance

Using time clock software will also allow you to notice employees who’ve been working extra hours based on their timecard data. Reward performance by offering bonuses and incentives to employees who complete their tasks ahead of time. Rewarding them will help build company culture and encourage other employees to reduce procrastination.

Beat Procrastination with a Reliable Time Clock

Procrastination is the habit of postponing high-priority tasks by focusing on enjoyable and less urgent activities. Procrastination can hinder you from achieving your goals, reduce morale, and lead to job loss and other issues. The best tool in the war against procrastination is awareness. By identifying the appropriate strategies, such as implementing time tracking, you can ensure your team performs efficiently, effectively, and always on time.