Do you often decide to do something “later” only to find that it never gets done?

This post originally appeared on theHarvard Business Review.

You’re not alone.

Meanwhile, only 57 percent of the people who saw this as their only chance indulged.

Unfortunately, banking on future time rarely aligns with productive results.

They fall back on their habits to put work off, and it doesn’t get accomplished.

That day never comes, leaving you scrambling at the last minute.

Then you wonder why you feel like you’re always frantically working and never have time to relax.

Consider these two approaches to dramatically increase your productivity.

To overcome this psychological loophole, it’s crucial that you eliminate the option to do something later.

First, challenge yourself to find specified times during your workday to complete your commitments.

Look at your project list and estimate approximately how long it will take you to get certain items done.

Then assign specific times in your schedule between now and the presentation for you to complete each piece.

In addition, eliminate free time after hours.

Instead, fill that time with personal commitments.

Fortunately, there’s a way to outsmart your mental tricks.

you could apply the same principle to motivate effective time management.

Your answer will probably be, “Of course not.

That would be a waste of time.”

Find out more atScheduleMakeover.com.

Illustration bycmgirl(Shutterstock).

Seb(Flickr) andMatt Biddulph(Flickr).

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