8 tips on how to stop procrastinating - a guide for UI/UX designers
The number one thing to remember is that procrastination is not an indication of laziness, a lack of motivation, or a lack of value in your as a designer.
Procrastination is often the result of lack of ability to properly scope and prepare for a project's duration, but there are a lot of tips that can help. We know procrastination is detrimental, and what’s worse is that our work suffers because of it! A mentor once said to me, “I used to procrastinate a lot until I realized that the work still needed to get done. So now I have a project that is much worse, and I feel awful that I didn’t put in the work needed to make it great. The work always needed to get done, but now I have a sub-par product.”
While procrastination might have been harmless in some moments of our academic work, once we enter a corporate environment, frequent delays of work or outputs of underwhelming work might lead to challenging conversations with the manager.
1. Never offer a deadline before you “have” to.
Sometimes we get really excited about a project, to the point that we blurt out “Yes! of course it can be done by XYZ. I can even get it to you sooner!”
Instead, take a step back, by saying “Let me look at the full scope, and get back to you with a date for XYZ deliverable.” This will allow you to escape the pressure from some stakeholders who might demand a timeline that is detrimental to you, and also it allows you to fully dive into the project parameters post meeting.
2. Create a brief to level-set expectations
Create a brief to summarize the expectations for the project. A brief can be very very short, and include:
a short paragraph giving context to the project
names of the key stakeholders, and their responsibilities (which area of the business they're in charge of).
the dates of deliverables including drafts, check-ins, feedback sessions, and the final version of the project
What the brief does is level-set expectations so that your stakeholders all agree on the proposed timeline, and don’t ping you for frequent updates but also, don’t feel like the work is not being delivered.
3. Establish a “brain-dump” hour
Often we might not want to start projects simply because the task feels so daunting. Establish a 30 minute to 1 hour session where you get down and dirty, to simply understand the project. Answer the following questions:
What is the goal for this project
When is it due?
What is expected of me? What responsibilities do I have? What are my deliverables?
How much time do I think each task will take?
Do I see any dependencies? (More on this below)
You can use this time to also simply gather the documents you need to get started. The brain dump hour is not the time to start working, as much as the time to prepare yourself to do the work.
By allowing yourself to simply note down the project expectations, look at the project in a Miro board or a Figma Jam board, collect all the needed “sticky notes” and go for a walk.
4. Break your project into smaller chunks and celebrate their completion
When the project feels intimidating, try to grab a piece of paper and a pen and write out all of the tasks needed to complete the project. Once you figure out the phases and the to-dos, fulfill the need for short term gratification by celebrating crossing off even the smallest completion. Sometimes seeing the progress visually is the best motivator towards staying on the path towards completion.
5. Beware the dependencies
You might think, “I procrastinate because I can always count on myself. I always do great, even in a pinch with no time!” That might be the case, until you hit dependencies.
Dependencies are those sneaky, sticky actions that need to get done before you can begin to conduct your work. For example:
you need to edit screens, but you only have the old ones in the shared drive. You have to reach out to Susie who owns the files, and Susie is out on vacation.
you are ready to start your work but your colleague who needs to give you details is out sick
the first draft of the project is due at the end of the week, but you forgot to set up time on everyone’s calendars and now the critique can only occur next week
Dependencies keep us humble, and remind us that even if we truly can perform under pressure, there are going to be requests, emails, and pings that simply have to happen sooner than later.
6. Utilize the Pomodoro method
This technique is a terrific way to cut down interruptions, and distraction, and the way that it works is:
Set up 25 minute increments with 5 minute breaks in between
Work on your task for 25 minutes, by placing your phone (or any main distraction) to the side
Spend the 5 minutes to stretch, take a walk, get water or a coffee, but try to avoid reaching for your main distraction that might steer you off the path
Every 4 pomodoro increments, take a longer 15-30 min break.
7. Predict the work load and give in to change
This is a two-step method.
Step 1: When looking at your project, not only focus on breaking the tasks apart, but actually assign how much time you are predicting those tasks should take you to complete.
Step 2: Now that you’ve outlined what work you have to complete, work with your brain to feed it instant( in a way) gratification and “novelty” by switching projects up and doing new work every 4 pomodoro cycles. Allow yourself to switch up gears, and start on new work that might feel freeing after long, sustained focus work.
8. The task is either added to the calendar, or it doesn’t exist
“I’ll do this project tomorrow.”
“I’ll finish the screens this week.”
“I’ll create the brief tonight.”
When? What time? When do you begin? When do you predict you’ll be done? By creating a plan to complete a project, including adding that plan to your calendar, you are significantly more likely to complete your goals.
In a stud of 267 participants were recruited from businesses, organizations, and business networking groups, Dr. Gail Matthews, found that more than 70 percent of the participants who sent weekly updates to a friend reported successful goal achievement (completely accomplished their goal or were more than half way there), compared to 35 percent of those who kept their goals to themselves, without writing them down.
Write your goals, your projects, your hopes and dreams down.
Further reading:
The Pomodoro Technique by todoist
Study focuses on strategies for achieving goals, resolutions
Need help with project management & time management? Consider setting up time with one of our vetted, seasoned mentors who can help you through personalized, boutique coaching.