Ways to Stop Procrastinating Doing House Chores

There are just so many distractions – a kid’s unlimited requests, television, social media, notifications on the phone, and procrastination – that hinder a faster task accomplishment, especially when doing chores at home.

Although some people become more effective when they use some time to procrastinate, most are trapped in their time-wasting-doing-nothing-habit.

A psychologist Piers Steel, PhD, at the University of Calgary, found in his five-year study of procrastination that 95 percent of Americans are reported having postponement problems. Tedious jobs are often left unfinished. Majority tend to put off things that inspire fear of failure, not living up to our expectations, of never finishing — insecurities that frighten our very identities. 

According to Joseph Ferrari, a psychology professor at DePaul University, there are two distinct types of people who have a problem finishing household chores on time: 

  • task delayers 
  • chronic procrastinators

Although there is a blurry distinction between the two, it comes down to pervasiveness. A feeling of overwhelming aversion to housework, on its own, it’s not enough to be suggestive of a chronic problem. Normally, all people can procrastinate sometimes, but for chronic procrastinators, it happens in all areas of life and even hurts a person’s health and relationships. It’s a “lifestyle of avoidance,” says Ferrari.

HOW TO STOP PROCRASTINATION AT HOME

A woman looking tired in front of a washing machine

In grade school, we were taught that procrastination is stealing – you are not maximizing your time to do your tasks while being paid. So, is procrastination excusable at home since we don’t get any payment from working out our tasks? The answer is still ‘No’. Procrastination is a significant barrier to productivity. So, when you want to know how to overcome this habit, keep reading and start making things happen.

Home is where tasks and responsibilities are endless. Most moms wake up in the morning and greeted with kitchen chores such as cooking breakfast for the family, preparing husband’s stuff for office work, and even fixing her own things to work. However, when she gets back home as the day ends, she is again welcomed by tons of household chores. This is when procrastination usually sink in, especially when one feels greatly overwhelmed and tired. So, how can you get things done at home and freeing your mind before you sleep at night? Here are some few effective ways to it.

Create Sticky Notes and Stick to it!

Use your fridge as a reminding space. Write down on sticky notes all necessary tasks needed to be done during that day. Number each of them according to their urgency and importance. Once you have completed a certain task, mark it or throw that sticky note to your bin. The clearer your fridge looks, the clearer and more peaceful your mind gets, knowing that you have accomplished your tasks.

“Eat an elephant beetle”

Identify what are the least pleasant things and get them done first early as it will you the rest of the day to concentrate on work that you find more enjoyable.

Tip: To embrace “the art of delay” is another good alternative. Based on studies, “active procrastination” or purposely delaying a task so you can focus on other urgent tasks can challenge and motivate a person to get things done. This strategy is effective for those who thrive under pressure.

Commit to your day-plan or schedule

As you write down your household chores, focus on doing them and not avoiding. It is more effective if you can write your tasks and their corresponding time for accomplishment. This will help you to engage in your work proactively.

Minimize distractions

Distractions are your biggest antagonist. They come in different forms-social media, movies on your TV, notifications on your phone, unexpected friend’s invitation, and loud internal noise or mental distractions. You don’t feel like doing the laundry, which can be done in just an hour because you are down. The best thing to motivate you doing it is to look at it many times. If you don’t finish it, think of the consequences many times. In this case, your laundry will pile up, and you will become lazier to wash them, or worst-you will run out of clothes to wear.

Treat yourself occasionally

Accomplishing a difficult chore at home can sometimes be energy-draining. So, reward yourself once you have completed one on time. You deserve a good feeling, after all, and it gives you more fuel to jump to the next chore.