We’ve all been there before. A big project looms in the not-too-distant future but instead of getting down to business, we take our sweet time by distracting ourselves with anything and everything other than our project. This is understandable. Everyone can sympathize. However the excuses and distractions will come back to haunt you as your deadline comes closer, and closer.

If you’re procrastinating before a big presentation, every day you avoid starting or finishing the necessary preparation for your presentation is one day that you can never get back. Seize the day and beat your presentation procrastination with these tips.

1. Start Somewhere…Anywhere

Starting a project is somewhat similar to starting a movie. By simply starting the task, you create a cliffhanger, the suspense that keeps you wondering, what will happen next, and how will this end? This element of suspense is created by something scientists call the Zeigarnik effect. Once you start something, you will likely develop an instinctive drive to complete it.

As a presenter, you can start your presentation preparation by organizing your research and then outlining your main points. If you haven’t even started your research, then start there. That’s an easy starting point. Find a relevant book and cozy up with it next to a fire or with a cup of tea at your favorite coffee shop and enjoy the leisurely activity of perusing a thoughtful book that relates to your presentation topic.

If your research is complete and outlined, then you’ve already begun and you’ve done the hardest part: taking the first step. If you need another step that feels slightly more official, then transform your content outline into a slide outline by breaking up bullet points into multiple slides, assigning a slide number to each of your ideas, and reducing large chunks of text.

To get started with the design portion of your presentation, select a color scheme and fonts for your slides, collect images and graphics to visualize your message, and then quickly organize these assets alongside your slide outline. Once you’ve taken care of these essential design tasks, putting these elements on your slides will be a piece of cake.

2. Do What You Dread…First

Doing what you dread first, also commonly referred to as eating a frog, is a common piece of productivity advice that is often easier said than done. This is where the Nike slogan comes in handy: Just Do It. And just do it first thing in the morning. Capitalize on your refreshed well of will power and do that which you most dread before you tackle any other tasks.

Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day. – Mark Twain

For most people, designing a presentation is fun, but writing the presentation content is a bore. Most people like putting pretty picture and funky fonts on slides, however almost nobody loves distilling complex concepts, and outlining a big idea. This preference for design is why most people try to develop their presentations by opening PowerPoint before they properly outline their ideas. Don’t do this. Don’t skip the critical task of outlining your thoughts, and editing your outline. Start developing your content before anything else.

If you’re like most people and you have an aversion to writing your presentation content, outline your main ideas fist thing tomorrow morning. Yes, TOMORROW morning. Not this weekend, and not next week. Even if you think you need to do some additional research or extra time to mull over your message, that is no excuse. Getting your ideas down on paper will either confirm or discredit your theories. If you indeed need more research, your outline will reveal the weak areas clearly. Having clarity on the strengths and weaknesses of your presentation will help you efficiently and effectively fill in any holes in your presentation. You will have laser focus when searching for the remaining elements you need to craft a compelling presentation. 

3. Exercise…Before You Begin

Before you sit down to tackle your presentation, go for a jog, take a hike, or pull out your old skateboard and give it a whirl. Exercise can increase your energy and also your focus.

Dr. John Ratey, author of “Spark – The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain” says that exercise improves your brain in the short term by raising your focus for two to three hours afterwards, according to Forbes.

In addition to boosting your focus for 2-3 hours afterwards, exercise will also increase your body’s production of ATP, the fuel your body uses for energy. The more mental energy you have, the more likely you will be to overcome writer’s block, and power through challenging moments in your presentation production, instead of binging on Netflix for the entire evening.

Exercise can be a distraction so be sure to schedule your exercise before you sit down to start working on your project. Don’t open your computer to begin and then decide that your time would be better spent running on the treadmill. Be intentional about exercise; don’t let it drag you away from your important tasks.

4. Unplug…From Everything

Unplugging seems obvious, however it is also one of the hardest pieces of advice to implement.

For example, as I sit here writing this blog post, my phone is ringing. It is my best friend whom I haven’t spoken to in weeks. I would love nothing more than to pick up the phone and hear her voice. However I know that if I pick up the phone, she and I will talk for at least an hour. Once our lengthy conversation has concluded, I will have to regain the momentum with my writing. I will need to read everything I’ve already written, and then reassess what still needs to be addressed.

Even though I did not pick up the phone, making the decision to decline the call used up a portion of my willpower that I might need later to keep trucking along with my project. We all have a limited supply of will power so don’t waste it unnecessarily. Turn off your phone if possible.

In addition to turning off your phone, you should also turn off email notifications, drop your kids off with a babysitter (if you work from home), and let your colleagues know that you should only be contacted for emergencies for a specified period of time.

5. Sprint…Don’t Marathon

Don’t work, work, work in a panic, trying to complete your presentation in a hurry at the last minute.

Instead, plan ahead, give yourself enough time, and then work for 90 minutes followed by a 15-20 minute break to increase your overall productivity by 16%.

Research from Peretz Lavie on ultradian rhythms matches up with these findings: longer productive sessions (of 90 minutes) followed by short breaks (of no more than 15-20 minutes) sync more closely with our natural energy cycles and allow us to maintain a better focus and higher energy level throughout the day, according to Greg Ciotti.

Photo courtesy of https://www.ryderwear.com/

You can only work according to this ultra-productive technique if you start developing your presentation weeks in advance. It is much more unlikely that you can complete your presentation by following this schedule if you are trying to pull a marathon of an overnighter the evening before you present. To make sure you have sufficient time to work for 90 minutes, then take a break, start working on your presentation as soon as possible.

Conclusion

Stop procrastinating. Get busy making your presentation great. Start today. Work in sprint mode then take breaks. Tackle the toughest tasks first. Remember to exercise regularly. And always unplug when you need to focus.

Additional Resources:

How to Kickstart Your Productivity: 33 Tips in 140 characters or Less

6 Ways Exercise Makes You Smarter

Just Knowing These 8 Facts Will Make You Way More Productive