
Procrastination is the silent killer of productivity and often leads to stress, missed deadlines, and decreased performance.
Although most people blame technology for distracting us and leading us to put off tasks, the same technology can help us stay focused and avoid procrastination if used the right way. Here we have discussed several ways in which you can use technology to avoid procrastination.
Use Focus Apps to Block Distractions
The biggest distractions for anyone in this digital age are social media, video platforms, and online games, and it is important to block these distractions to regain control. You can use focus apps like Freedom or Forest to block distractions like specific websites or apps during work sessions, so that you can regain control and give your brain the space to focus on meaningful tasks.
Set Timers to Implement the Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro technique is a proven and effective time management method, in which you work for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break. Using the Pomodoro technique can help you push off procrastination, and you can use apps like Focus Booster or PomoDone to implement this technique effectively.
The reason why the Pomodoro technique works is that it makes big tasks feel more manageable, and regular breaks help to reduce burnout. So, make sure that you use a timer and focus apps to effectively implement this time management technique in your life.
Use Task Management Tools
Task management tools like Trello, Todoist, and Asana are being used by people all over the world to manage their tasks in a better way. With the help of these apps, you can organise your workload visually and avoid feeling overwhelmed. The benefit of using task management tools and apps is that they can break large projects into smaller and achievable steps and help you prioritise tasks based on their deadline, importance, and complexity.
Schedule Everything with Digital Calendars
Another way to avoid procrastination by using technology is to use digital calendars like Google or Apple Calendar. Unscheduled tasks are usually postponed, but if you start to schedule them and keep them in your calendar, then you won’t procrastinate or postpone those tasks.
With digital calendars, you can allocate specific time blocks for each task, add recurring reminders and colour-coded labels, and get notified about your upcoming tasks. You can also add various time tables from platforms like PrayerTimes.one directly to your digital calendars, including the prayers timetable published by them.
Automate Repetitive Tasks
People often procrastinate when they have to deal with repetitive or boring tasks. The best way to deal with repetitive or boring tasks is to automate them and eliminate them from your routine, completely or partially. For this purpose, you can use automation tools like Zapier to automate and get rid of repetitive tasks from your workflow so that you can free up time and mental energy to focus on tasks that truly matter.
Set Smart Reminders
Forgetfulness often leads to procrastination, and many consider it a sneaky form of procrastination. To prevent forgetfulness, you can set smart reminders through apps like Google Keep or Apple Reminders to stay on top of your priorities and also offer prayers at the exact times according to the timetable published by the Prayer Times website. The advantage of using reminder apps is that they can help your brain from feeling overloaded and ensure important tasks aren’t ignored.
Track Your Screen Time
Having excess screen time is another common reason for procrastination these days. Without even realizing it, people spend so much time on their smartphones and other digital devices that they end up postponing or delaying various important tasks. You can use tools like Digital Wellbeing (Android) or Screen Time (iOS) to get a detailed breakdown of your screen time and track where you are spending your time the most, so that you can create awareness and avoid overextending your usage limits.
