Ways You Can Overcome Procrastination
Procrastination is one of the most common challenges for people to face on an almost daily basis. According to GoodNet, if you tend to push off important tasks while knowing their urgency, you could be dealing with procrastination. Doing this may cause temporary relief, but in the end it often leads to extreme stress, lower productivity and missed deadlines.
When we procrastinate the tasks we tend to avoid are the annoying tasks that just keep getting pushed lower on our to-do list. Sometimes the problem is that the task seems like it’ll take too long. There are also moments where we avoid a task simply because it seems boring.
No matter the reason for your procrastination, it’s recommended that you create your own accountability. An example of this would be setting a short timer, maybe five minutes, to start on whatever task you’re currently dreading. It might also be helpful to make a 3-5 item to-do list each day of what is most important and needs to be done. Crossing things off of this list can be satisfying and the list is there as a physical reminder of what you need to get done. This can help to keep you accountable.
Removing distractions is one of the best ways to combat procrastination. Having a loud environment or distracting things around, like your phone, can make it a lot harder to concentrate. To beat procrastination it’s suggested that you remove these distractions completely. An example would be putting your phone in another room, or powering it off and putting it all the way across the table.
First you’ll need to find out what specifically is a distraction for you. Then you can move on to eliminating that distraction and putting yourself into a much better environment that will up your chances of completing the task at hand. When you notice that something is a distraction for you, actively acknowledge it and detach from it.
Once you finally get that hard task done, you’ll realize that the effort was worth the feeling that you get once it’s finally over.
Quickest Ways to Improve Your Credit Score
1. Get a Higher Credit Limit (or Open a New Credit Card)
If your credit limit increases and your balance remains the same, that will lower your credit utilization. It can improve your credit. This is one of the quickest ways to improve your credit score. Moreover, if your income increases or you have more years of positive credit experience, your credit can go up, too. So, try to not max out your credit. You could even open a new credit card and not touch it, just to help lower that credit utilization even more.
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2. Autopay is Your Friend
Missing payments can obviously really lower your credit rating. It’s a mistake you don’t want to make. So, sign up for an autopay option. This might not the be quickest way to improve your credit, but over time, it can really help, especially if you find yourself missing payments once in a while.
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3. Get to Know Your Credit
Before your really improve your credit, you have to see where you are the weakest. So, check your credit history, and study it. Find a copy of your credit report from each of the three major national credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Then, look the reports over to see what’s bringing down your score or helping it. Improve on those negative areas.
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4. Limit Those Hard Inquiries
When you open a line of credit or apply for a variety of other things, such as a loan or apartment rental, you have have to get a hard inquiry done on your account. But, each hard inquiry can bring down your credit scores a little bit. Over time, that can build up. So, try not to open too many accounts at once. These hard inquires are a minor factor, but they still count.
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5. Pay More Often
We usually pay off debts, such as a house payment or credit card payment, once a month. Instead, try splitting that payment into every two weeks. That could help you save on interest. But, it could also help lower your account balances and credit utilization ratio. That, in turn, could raise your scores.
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6. Become an Authorized User
This is among the biggest ways to improve your credit score. If you have a relative or even friend with a credit card account and high limit, plus a good history of paying on time, ask them if they would consider adding you as an authorized user. If they’re uncomfortable and you using their card, they actually don’t even have to let you use the card of give you their account number. Just the act of adding you to the account will improve your credit. It could improve it a lot.
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7. Dispute Credit Report Errors
I have personally found credit records to be pretty accurate. But, today, there are so many fraud cases out there, that you really have to be vigilant. If you have a mistake on one of your credit reports, it could really hurt your credit. So, dispute that error. If you win, that can quickly improve your credit.
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In the End, Don't Get Discouraged
While these tips could help raise your credit score, and hopefully quickly, getting stellar credit doesn’t happen overnight. There’s no magic bullet to wake up with an 850 credit score. So, try these tips and do your best to keep your credit perfect, or at least near perfect. Over time, it will all add up. You’ll hopefully see a meaningful, and long-lasting change.
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