Break your procrastination habit

Break your procrastination habit

Sorry, but lessons on The Blue Tree work only on a computer or a tablet.

Bardzo mi przykro, ale lekcje na platformie The Blue Tree działają jedynie na komputerze lub tablecie.

Do zobaczenia na większym ekranie 🙂

Zespół The Blue Tree

Break your procrastination habit
Learn more words

THE BLUE TREE

Personal
Productivity

CEF B1

CEFR B2

Upper
Intermediate

Practise speaking by describing this image
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warm up

Answer the questions below.

TRANSCRIPT

Yeah, I do struggle with procrastination sometimes, especially when the task feels overwhelming or boring. I’ve learned that I tend to avoid things that make me anxious, so I’ve been trying to break tasks down into smaller, easier steps. That helps me get started and build momentum.

Why is it hard to complete some tasks on time sometimes?
TRANSCRIPT

I think it can be hard to complete tasks on time because of our own emotions or mindset. Sometimes a task feels more difficult or stressful than it really is, which leads to putting it off. Also, if the work seems boring, we naturally avoid it. I try to manage this by focusing on the positive outcome of finishing the task, or by rewarding myself after I complete it.

Do you organize your work tasks according to priority or difficulty?
TRANSCRIPT

I organize my work tasks based on priority. I like to start with the most important tasks first, even if they’re difficult. I’ve found that once I tackle the high-priority tasks, it feels like a weight is lifted, and the rest of my day goes more smoothly. I also try to keep my systems simple, so I don’t feel overwhelmed by everything on my plate.

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LISTENING

Listen to the audio. What is the main message of this HBR Management Tip?

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reading

Break Your 1. Procrastination Habit

Do you keep 2. postponing work you need to do? Most of us procrastinate from time to time. Rather than feeling guilty about it, or 3. beating yourself up, try these strategies to break the habit.

Schedule your deep work. It’s easier to put off work that requires concentration. So build time in your daily calendar to focus on your most important long-term project. Having a regular pattern each day will make it less challenging and help make progress feel automatic, rather than 4. cumbersome.

Learn to accept demanding work. Don’t make the mistake of 5. equating easy work with productivity. The more tolerant you become of demanding tasks, the less you’ll procrastinate. This takes practice; commit to 6.tackling 90 minutes of at least one demanding task each day — not just busy work.

Create a system for starting new tasks. You’ll be less likely to delay 7. novel tasks if you have a system for approaching them. Have consistent steps you take when you 8. encounter something new to reduce decision 9. fatigue about how to start.

Use self-compassion. We tend to avoid tasks that stir up negative emotions. Try to identify what you’re feeling exactly, so you can address the emotion 10.head on. Sometimes the negative feelings about a task are driven by a prior experience. You can heal these wounds with compassionate self-talk. Tell yourself, “It’s normal to be disappointed in my past performance. I’m learning through experience.”

This tip is adapted from How to Stop Procrastinating,” by Alice Boyes

odkładać zadania na ostatnią chwilę

zwlekać, odkładać, przekładać (na później)

obwiniać się

nieporęczny (np. styl), nieudolny (np. o przeprosinach)

stawiać znak równości pomiędzy

uporać się (z czymś), stawiać czoło (problemom)

nowy, nieznany 

napotkać, natknąć się (na coś)

zmęczenie

bezpośrednio, z determinacją

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COMPREHENSION

Answer the questions below. Throw some newly learned words and phrases into your answers.

  • How common is the habit of procrastinating?
  • What do some people do when they procrastinate?
  • Why should we schedule time for deep work?
  • How does it help to have a regular pattern for deep work?
  • What mistake do some people make as regards productivity?
  • What do we have to learn to tolerate?
  • What can we do to approach difficult tasks easier?
  • What tasks do we tend to avoid more often?
  • How can compassionate self-talk help us?
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POLL

Cast your vote in the poll.

Which piece of advice about breaking the procrastination habit do you find most practical?

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COMMENTS

What is your method of dealing with procrastination? How do you make yourself do difficult tasks?

Share your views and experience here.

Let’s touch base. 15 English idioms to use at work

Let’s touch base. 15 English idioms to use at work

Sorry, but lessons on The Blue Tree work only on a computer or a tablet.

Bardzo mi przykro, ale lekcje na platformie The Blue Tree działają jedynie na komputerze lub tablecie.

Do zobaczenia na większym ekranie 🙂

Zespół The Blue Tree

back to HOME > Learning EnglishEveryday English > Talking about progress

Learn more words

THE BLUE TREE

Everyday English

CEF B1

CEFR B1

Intermediate

Practise speaking by describing this image
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warm up

Answer the questions below.

  • How often do you need to speak English at work?
  • Is it easier for you to talk to native speakers or learners of English?
  • What is the advantage of using idioms?
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part one

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key language

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watch the video

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Comprehension

Try to answer the questions below on the grounds of the video above.

  • ⌚ 0:11 Where does Emma believe are English idioms used most often?
  • ⌚ 0:21 How important is it to be able to use idiom when we communicate in English?
  • ⌚ 0:33 What are some of the benefits of knowing and using idioms?
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part two

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key language

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watch the video

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Comprehension

Try to answer the questions below on the grounds of the video above.

  • ⌚ 1:24 What does it mean to ‘get your foot in the door‘?
  • ⌚ 1:54 What are some of the ways we can get our foot in the door of a company we really want to work for?
  • ⌚ 2:26 What does it mean to ‘show someone the ropes‘?
  • ⌚ 2:47 What does the idiom ‘thrown in the deep end‘ mean?
  • ⌚ 3:03 How was Emma thrown in the deep end on her first teaching job?
  • ⌚ 3:49 When do we use the expressions ‘a steep learning curve‘?
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part three

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key language

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watch the video

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Comprehension

Try to answer the questions below on the grounds of the video above.

  • ⌚ 5:23 What does it mean to do something ‘by the book‘?
  • ⌚ 5:50 How is ‘to cut corners‘ different from ‘by the book‘?
  • ⌚ 6:15 What situation does the idiom ‘have one’s work cut out‘ describe?
  • ⌚ 6:43 What does it mean to ‘make light/short work (of something)’?
  • ⌚ 7:10 Can we use this idiom outside of the work context? How?
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part four

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key language

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watch the video

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Comprehension

Try to answer the questions below on the grounds of the video above.

  • ⌚ 8:00 What happens when we ‘touch base‘ with someone?
  • ⌚ 8:28 What does it mean to ‘cut to the chase‘?
  • ⌚ 9:02 Why do we need to be careful when we are using this idiom?
  • ⌚ 9:54 What does it mean ‘to bite your tongue‘?
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part five

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key language

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watch the video

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Comprehension

Try to answer the questions below on the grounds of the video above.

  • ⌚ 10:21 What does it mean to ‘rock the boat‘?
  • ⌚ 11:26 When can we use the idiom ‘to put out fires‘?
  • ⌚ 12:10 What happens when someone ‘is in hot water‘?
  • ⌚ 12:28 When is the right time to use the idiom ‘let’s call it a day‘?
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PRACTICE

Multidecker Fiszki

Play this Multidecker flashcard game.

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LESSON GLOSSARY

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COMMENTS

Write your own examples with the idioms you learnt in this lesson.