Name: English Podcast - How to: Overcoming Procrastination - Breaking Free from Laziness
Uploaded: 2025-01-29T07:31:29.000Z
Duration: 12 min 51 s
Description: Thousands of YouTube videos with English-Chinese subtitles! Now you can learn to understand native speakers, expand your vocabulary, and improve your pronunciation...

Welcome to another episode of English on the Go, where we believe you can learn everywhere and speak everywhere.

Adverbs of degree

I'm your host, Brian, and today we're tackling a challenge that affects almost everyone, procrastination and laziness.

Whether you're studying English or pursuing other goals, these habits can really hold you back.

By the end of this episode, you'll have practical strategies to boost your productivity and some excellent English vocabulary to discuss this topic.

Before we dive into our conversation, let's understand why this topic matters.

Procrastination isn't just about being lazy.

It's a complex behavior that can stem from fear, perfectionism or feeling overwhelmed.

Today, we'll hear different perspectives on this from our guests, Sarah, a productivity coach, and Mike, who's working on overcoming his procrastination habits.

Before we start, think about these questions.

When do you find yourself procrastinating the most?

What excuses do you usually make when putting things off?

How does procrastination affect your language learning journey?

Take a moment to reflect on these and let's move on to our conversation.

Today I'm joined by Sarah Thompson, a productivity coach with over 10 years of experience, and Mike Chen, a software developer who's been on a journey to overcome procrastination.

I'm excited to share some insights today.

Yeah, I've definitely had my struggles with procrastination, so I'm looking forward to this discussion.

Mike, what's your biggest challenge when it comes to procrastination?

You know, I tend to put things off until the last minute, especially when I'm facing a daunting task.

I'll find myself killing time on social media or making excuses about why I can't start right away.

It's like I'm dragging my feet on purpose.

Many people fall into the trap of procrastination when they're overwhelmed.

The key is to break down these big tasks into smaller, manageable chunks.

I mean, I've tried using to-do lists and setting deadlines, but I still end up burning the midnight oil to finish things at the last minute.

Instead of trying to tackle everything at once, try the two-minute rule.

If something takes less than two minutes, do it right away.

How does this apply to language learning, Sarah?

Well, instead of saying, I need to study English for two hours, which might feel overwhelming, start with, I'll review five vocabulary words, or I'll listen to one short podcast episode.

You're more likely to stick to these smaller commitments.

I've noticed that when I put something on the back burner, it just creates more stress later.

But sometimes I feel like I need to wait for the perfect moment to start.

You need to jump in and accept that it won't be perfect at first.

I've also found that I tend to zone out when working on challenging tasks.

That's where the Pomodoro Technique comes in handy.

Work for 25 minutes, then take a five-minute break.

It helps you stay on track without burning out.

You need to strike a balance between pushing yourself and taking breaks.

I actually tried that last week, and it helped me power through a tough project.

Instead of throwing in the towel when things got difficult, I kept going in small chunks.

And don't forget to pat yourself on the back when you complete these small tasks.

Sometimes you need to shake things up, change your environment, work in a different location, or find an accountability partner.

The key is to take the plunge and start, even when you don't feel like it.

I've started working at a cafe sometimes, and just being around other productive people helps me buckle down and focus.

Let's break down some key expressions we heard in our conversation.

First up, we have the phrase, put things off.

For example, I tend to put things off until the last minute when I'm facing a big project.

This one's for when you're just doing random things to pass time while waiting.

Like, I end up killing time on social media instead of getting started right away.

This is when you're moving slowly or delaying something on purpose.

For instance, I'll drag my feet when I'm not looking forward to a task, like cleaning.

This means getting tricked into something, often by accident.

For example, it's easy to fall into the trap of procrastination when you're overwhelmed by work.

This is a phrase for working late into the night.

For instance, I often burn the midnight oil to finish projects on time.

Like, I've bitten off more than I can chew with this new project.

For example, writing down a to-do list helps me get the ball rolling.

Next, we have, put something on the back burner.

This one's for when you delay handling something until later.

For example, I put my creative projects on the back burner during busy work seasons.

Like, I often zone out during long meetings.

This means continuing to work despite difficulties.

Last week I had to power through a really tough project.

For example, I almost threw in the towel but then decided to keep pushing forward.

It's a way of saying to congratulate yourself.

Remember to pat yourself on the back when you finish small tasks.

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English Podcast - How to: Overcoming Procrastination - Breaking Free from Laziness

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