Overcoming procrastination is a favorite topic on Lifehacker. The more tips and tricks in our arsenal, the better our chances of beating procrastination and getting things done. One strategy is to have a side project that helps you procrastinate more productively.
Photo by somegeekintn
Recently we asked you readers "what's your side project?", and the responses were varied and inspiring (everything from homemade bread baking to marathon training to programming and beyond). Make writer Saul Griffith suggests that side projects like these can be used to fool yourself into being motivated—particularly if your "procrastination project" develops skills you might need in an upcoming project. His reasoning:
I gave up on trying to do exactly what I was meant to be doing in favor of always doing something. Frankly, I'm not sure we're designed to focus on only one thing for eight or ten hours in a row. I've always found that it's useful to have something else to be doing when you're too burnt out to face the next thing on your list. That way, flipping back and forth between the two projects prevents focus fatigue.
The key is to have a side project that forces you to learn something. Having a project (or two or more, perhaps) on the back burner can make your (perhaps inevitable) procrastination time more productive, giving you a chance to refuel and be more productive for your real work or main project.
Check out the post below for more on this strategy, and let's share more of our favorite procrastination tips and tricks in the comments.