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Do you ever find yourself putting off a dreaded task for weeks or even months or years? I have been known to procrastinate a 10-minute job for ten years. Thankfully, God is slowly changing me in this area. Here are ten tips I’ve been using to help me stop procrastinating. Hope they help you as well!
Note: This was first published as a blog post years ago. I’ve updated the blog post to reflect my current practices and also included a podcast to go with it so you can listen while you’re working on one of those dreaded deeds!
10 Tips to Help You Stop Procrastinating
- Find out why you’re procrastinating. When you feel like procrastinating, ask, “Why am I procrastinating?” Sometimes just hearing the answer to that question will help you stop procrastinating. For example, if the answer is “I don’t know how to do it,” then the first step is to ask someone how to do it or watch a YouTube video. When the reason for procrastination is hazy, we can’t find a solution to the problem because we don’t know what the problem is.
- Ask, “What’s the first step?” Often, we procrastinate because we see that huge project all at once the minute we think of it. It seems so overwhelming we don’t want to begin. When we only think of the first step, it seems more manageable and we’ll feel like doing it.
- Break your project into smaller tasks. Sometimes it helps to break the project into little steps before you even start. That way when you ask, “What’s the first step?” you’ll have a ready answer which will make it easier to start. You could even get a project notebook that contains steps for all your projects or use Todoist, Trello, or some other productivity app to create project task lists.
- Set up your project the night before. Sometimes the hardest thing is to just get the job started. It really helps to lay out everything you need the night before. Something about doing that just makes it easier to start the next morning. This could work for making dinner as well. Decide on what you’re having in the morning, take out some of the ingredients, and it will be easier to start the meal later.
- Start with an easy, non-threatening task. Sometimes it helps to do an easy task before you tackle your dreaded task just to get your work motors revved up. For example, you could sweep the kitchen or vacuum the floor or walk the dog around the block. Anything to tell your brain that, “Hey, we’re going into work-mode now.” If you do that, set a time to start your hard work. So for example, you might start sweeping at 7:00 and say, “From 7:30 to 8:30, I’ll work on that difficult project.” This will help you get it into your mind that yes, you are going to work on that dreaded project today!
- Give yourself a pep talk. While you’re doing that easy task, give yourself a pep talk about the hard task. Tell yourself how good it will feel to accomplish it. Tell yourself, “You can do this!” Maybe even picture yourself working cheerfully away at your task. Anything to get you in the mood to do it. When the set time comes to do it, resist the urge to wait “just another five minutes.” Instead, treat it like you’re going to a job outside your home and you have to get there on time!
- Try to make it as fun as possible. While you’re actually doing the job, try to make it as fun as possible. Put on some great music. Get a friend or family member to work alongside you. Or go to the bakery where it is at least a fun atmosphere and you can have a cup of coffee by your side if it’s something you can do at the bakery.
- Take advantage of momentum. Have you ever tried to push a car down the street? It’s hardest at the beginning. But once you get it rolling it doesn’t require that much effort. That’s also true of our most dreaded tasks. The hardest part is to get it rolling. Try to work on it every day but Sunday so you can take advantage of the momentum.
9. Be thankful. Do you ever catch yourself complaining when you’re working on a really hard job? Those negative thoughts sap our energy. Reverse them by being thankful. As you do your job say things like, “Thank you, God, for helping me work on this today. Thank you for what you’ll help me accomplish.”
10. Give yourself a reward for finishing the job. Remember the old days when the teacher would give you a sticker for completing your homework assignment? Rewards can motivate us to work, even if they’re small ones. You could give yourself a small reward for each step of the process if the steps themselves are huge, or just give yourself a reward when you finish the whole project. You could even use those cute little stickers and put them next to the tasks on your project list after you complete them!
It feels great to accomplish a dreaded project. If you have one of those projects hanging around the house or the office, see if some of these tips will help.
Resources Mentioned on the Podcast
- To-Doist App
Freedom from Procrastination. God used the writing of this book to completely change me in the area of procrastination, and I’m hoping He’ll use it to help you as well. The book contains Bible studies as well as practical tips, project lists, weekly to-do charts, and questions and Bible verses to help you renew your mind when you don’t feel like doing the next thing on your to-do list.
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Discussion: Do you have any other tips for procrastination? Which tips would help you the most?
Excellent advice. I think everyone is guilty of this. The list is a great way to start the brain in motion. I think I’ll use this method to start the fix up projects around the house. It’s only been a couple of years… I don’t like to rush into anything…!
Haha, I know how that goes. I just started a note in my evernote goals file that is titled, “Things I’ve been procrastinating,” and it already has a bunch of items on the list. I’m thinking of making one day a week, or maybe every two weeks, to be “Procrastination Day” where I focus on those things!
Loved the post. I have a similar list post on my blog, but you added a few things I did not have. #7 hit home with me right now. I have momentum with a seminar I present that has picked up and I am working to keep it moving forward into bigger things. Keep encouraging.
Can you add a link to it, Bernard? I would love to add it to the discussion!
Iove how you just threw “be thankful” into that list. I wouldn’t have thought of that one but now that you’ve mentioned it I can see how it works in my life. When I’m thankful I tend to be more positive, and ready to get things done.
Me too, Caleb. I’ve really been working on trying to be thankful this year and it is helping with my to-do list.
It’s something that we are trying to teach our children too and I find that thankfullness must be taught by example.
What a great thing to teach them. Wouldn’t it be nice if we started out completely mature when our first kid was born so we could be a great example to all of them? Ah well, I have to believe that when they see us growing and changing, that that is also a good example!
I agree with Floyd, everyone has some area where procrastination is a problem. In most areas, it’s really not for me, but when I really dread something (like technical changes to my blog or revamping my office), I get very good at procrastination. Your tips are good ones, and the areas I am doing well in are the ones I employ many of them regularly.
That’s interesting, Kari – so I guess the question is how to apply them to the technical challenges or revamping the office. Also, it’s interesting to me that even on the ball people struggle with it. I guess I didn’t know that! It makes me feel less inept. :)
Yes, that is the question. For me, I just have not made them enough of a priority. Not sure how “on the ball” I am, but I do know that there is always some area needing attention. I did read once that it’s good to keep one area “disorganized” (like a junk drawer) to help keep balance in your life and not go to an extreme with organization either.
Haha, I don’t think I’m in danger of that, unfortunately. These little tips really are helping me, though. Especially number 1-4. Plus I’m trying to shorten my lists up so i can always complete them every day which helps on an emotional level.
Being thankful is key for me right now. Learning to REJOICE no matter how overwhelmed I feel. it’s a blessing to be able to rest in Christ, trust His timing and have joy even when things seem to be piling up.
great advice.
I was trying that one the other day when I had a terrible techy problem that I spent a couple of hours on. Focusing on being thankful while continuing to try different strategies to solve my techy problem really was helpful on an emotional level!
Thanks for this Barb, it’s sooo timely for me. I was just smiling at #6 because i have a small bowl of nuts next to the laptop right now :) i like what you’ve said about starting with the non-threatening tasks first. often we think we have to do the hard job first! When I am not in the mood for handling difficult things, that’s the very thing that will keep me procrastinating. But smaller easier things help with momentum. Like right now i need to go get the trash out and come back and complete a guest post! Thanks, this was right on time!
Thanks, Ngina. I wrote it because I needed it myself. Some days I just don’t feel like doing anything! Which makes it hard to do things you don’t really have to do.
Great tips Barb! I’m learning to work on projects I’m avoiding for 10 minutes. If I want to stop until tomorrow, at least I’ve started . . . but many times I’m motivated to stay with it until it’s finished. Sure wish I’d started doing this years ago.
That’s a great idea to do it for ten minutes – we can usually last that long just on brute strength. that happens to me too that when I start, I usually keep going. Good advice – thanks, Deb!
Good reminders Barb. I especially resonate with this one – Focus on one job at a time.
Need to do a better job at that. :)
Me too. I do so much better when I focus on one. It keeps me from feeling overwhelmed. Too bad I didn’t read your comment earlier today – I needed it!
Hello Barb,
I try to keep the end in mind whenever I’m plagued with procrastination. Telling myself that if I do X the result will be Y (at least in the future). Great post!
That’s a great idea, Dan. I’m afraid I often think my project is going to fail anyway, so why bother? Or that I can’t do it. I guess I need a little makeover in that department. :)
I think every person in the “fight” or taking action deals with that. Even the successful people. It’s something we have to overcome.
Thanks for reminding me, Dan. I always tend to think that if I were a more on-the-ball person by nature, writing would be easier. But I imagine everyone deals with insecurity in some form or another.
Great tips, Barb. I think there are two main approaches. The first is to just make an immediate switch to barrel through a current task. The second approach is to really address chronic procrastination by taking a look at your inner motivations and your heart.
I think the tips you’ve given here are wonderful. I think #6 is one that people underestimate. Putting on some music or turning something into a game can be pretty effective.
I agree with your two approach assessment, Loren. The second approach takes longer but in the long run it saves time because we’re dealing with the heart issues and producing more long-term change which will create less procrastination in the future. Speaking of time management, I saw you have a new podcast out – can’t wait to listen to it! I haven’t had time yet but am looking forward to it – I really have enjoyed the series with Matt Perman – will include link here: http://www.lifeofasteward.com/matt-perman-gospel-productivity-relationship-part-3/
Thanks, Barb! Glad you liked it. He was fun to talk to.
This was a great podcast!! Thank you for your work and making some things easier!! 😊
Moraima
So glad you enjoyed the podcast, Moraima! It’s good to have you here!
Barb,
Do you still use the other apps, trillo and the focusing app you mentioned in posts you linked to this one, now that you use Todoist. I use Todoist. I am wondering how you use it.