7 Top Tips to Finally Stop Procrastinating and Get Stuff Done

“I had a lot of stuff to do today.. And now I have a lot of stuff to do tomorrow.”

I’m not sure who’s responsible for this quote, but I can definitely relate! 

To procrastinate means to delay or avoid doing something important in favor of doing something else instead. 

It’s essentially a habit of avoidance. Why do it now when you could panic about it later, right?

Let’s be honest though.. Almost everyone is guilty of procrastinating at some point. 

It’s true – procrastination is a common issue for many people. You’re not alone. 

It goes a little something like this…

You choose Netflix over working on that upcoming work presentation. You decide to have a nap instead of tidying the apartment. You scroll through Instagram instead of going to the gym.

The result? 

You waste precious time. You fall behind on projects and deadlines. You frustrate yourself and amplify your anxiety. 

But ultimately, you hold yourself back from reaching your full potential. You stay stuck in the same place or in the same cycle because you just can’t seem to stop putting things off.

I should know – I used to be THE procrastination queen! I literally put the “pro” in procrastination. Lame but true.

It was rough. Until I figured out that, like any habit, I could figure out how to stop doing it if I put my mind to it. 

In this post, I’m going to share with you seven super effective tips to help you stop procrastinating so that you can finally tackle those big dreams and get some serious stuff done!

1. Challenge your inner dialogue

Avoid the “I have to” narrative. This kind of thinking only makes you resent the task you have to do, and as a result, you’ll most likely try to avoid it. 

Think about it.. When you’re told that you have to do something, you almost automatically don’t want to do it. 

This phrase implies that you have no choice and, therefore, no control over the situation. This can make you feel disempowered and pressured to complete a specific task. 

Instead, swap this phrase with “I get to.”

Take a pen and paper and list all the tasks you are avoiding or have been putting off. Next to each task, write the reason(s) why you get to do that thing.

For example..

I get to work out because my body is strong enough to exercise. 

I get to write this essay because I’m fortunate to be furthering my education. 

I get to clean my apartment because I’m blessed to have a home and I deserve to live in a tidy space.

The next time you feel that “I have to” mentality creeping in, remind yourself why you get to do the task instead. 

It might seem a little cheesy, but a simple change in perspective and a little bit of gratitude can work wonders!

2. Understand your procrastination trigger(s)

What if I told you there was a reason why you’re procrastinating? 

Just like any habit, procrastination follows a trigger. Procrastination isn’t the problem; it’s a symptom of the problem. The cause itself lies deeper. 

The good news? If you can pinpoint the reasons behind your procrastination, you can take steps to address the root of the problem.

• Perfectionism

When you want the outcome of a task to be perfect, you may avoid starting that task in case it turns out to be anything.. well, not 150% perfect.

I hate to burst your bubble, but… Perfection is an illusion. Perfection is unrealistic. Perfection doesn’t exist. And perfection, to be perfectly (no pun intended) honest, is boring! 

Take the pressure off and give yourself permission to produce imperfect work. Allow yourself the space to create a few rough first drafts.

You can always go back and refine whatever you’ve done later on. Just focus on getting it done first. 

Done, my friend, is better than perfect.

“Have no fear of perfection – you’ll never reach it.” – Salvador Dali.

• Fear of failure 

Sometimes fear can be paralyzing. Literally.. 

Enter procrastination..

I’ve been there.. I can relate..

You fear that if something doesn’t turn out exactly the way you envision that it means you have failed. Other times you may be terrified of making a mistake. But here’s a secret… 

Mistakes are important, and you learn more from them. Making mistakes is how you gain experience. Mistakes are valuable. 

Give yourself permission to make mistakes. And to learn from them.

If you want to succeed, you must first learn to fail.

“Success is all about going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.”

winston churchill

• Overwhelm 

If you feel overwhelmed by the task, chances are you will avoid it. Who wants to tackle something that seems like a monumental effort?

The first step is to break big tasks into smaller chunks that don’t seem so daunting. 

For example, thinking about studying the entire course curriculum for an upcoming exam will seem extremely overwhelming and near impossible. 

But if you break the workload into manageable sections, like studying a chapter a day, it suddenly seems a little more doable, doesn’t it? 

Once you’ve broken the task down, create a to-do list and action plan detailing everything step by step. Schedule each task in your diary so that you know what you need to do and when.

Keep chipping away at your task, focusing on one step at a time and tick each one off as you complete it. 

Remember.. One day at a time, one step at a time. 

“One step at a time is all it takes to get you there.”

emily dickinson

• Distractions

Make sure your workspace is free of distractions. Turn off the TV, silence your phone, tidy your space… 

Do whatever you need to do to make sure you won’t be disturbed while trying to focus on getting stuff done. 

If I get distracted, I lose my train of thought and my rhythm, and I find it difficult to get back into the groove and pick up where I left off. 

Set yourself up for success by making sure your environment is conducive to productivity.

3. Just start

Starting is always the hardest part. 

Gently force yourself to just start somewhere. Anywhere. Pick a starting point and just go for it.

A trick I like is talking myself into working on a task I don’t want to do for just 15 minutes. After that time, I’m free to take a break or do something else. 

All I have to do is work on it for 15 minutes. Seems easy enough, right?

I often find that this tricks me into getting over the hump of starting the task, but I mostly don’t want to stop after the timer goes off. 

It doesn’t take much until I find a comfortable groove, and suddenly… I don’t mind the work as much as I thought I would. Sometimes thinking about doing the work is worse than actually doing the work.

4. Start with something easy

This point circles back to the importance of just getting started. You can make this even easier if you choose something really easy for yourself to begin with.

Pick something so ridiculously easy that procrastinating seems like a ridiculous option. 

For example, if cleaning your apartment seems daunting, start with taking out the trash or washing one dish.

These tasks are so small and simple and would take less than 2 minutes of your time to complete, yet they still bring a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction. Plus, you’re now closer to your end goal. 

They’re small steps, but you’ve made progress, nonetheless.

Follow this task with another relatively easy one, like wiping one mirror or watering one plant. Before you know it, you’re doing the thing! 

And, once you see how quickly and easily you can make progress, you might be more inclined to want to carry on and finish the task.

5. Try to talk yourself out of it

This one seems counterintuitive, but it has worked for me in the past. 

Think about the last time someone tried to talk you out of doing a thing or told you not to do it. It made you kind of want to do the thing, didn’t it?

It’s simple reverse psychology.

When I first realized I wanted to start a blog, I procrastinated and put it off for about two years before I decided to put any real effort into it. 

I tried talking myself out of starting it a few times. Maybe the fact that I didn’t feel like starting it meant it wasn’t for me and that letting the idea go would probably be for the best. 

Surprisingly, the first thought that would always spring to mind was, “but this is my dream; I have to have it.” 

I would feel a deep sinking feeling every time I imagined the possibility of my dream and vision possibly never seeing the light of day. It was like a switch flipped.

Imagine you no longer had the opportunity to do this thing tomorrow, or ever again, for whatever reason. How would that make you feel?

Try it. It may just work!

6. Reward yourself

Another way to beat procrastination is to use incentives to motivate yourself.

Pick something you want or would like to do, and only allow yourself to have it after completing a specific task.

For example.. Say to yourself that for every hour of work you do, you’re allowed a 15-minute break to have a snack, chat with a friend or watch Netflix. 

Or perhaps you’re working on a large project. Decide that you will reward yourself with a massage or a pair of new shoes when it’s finally complete.

You can reward yourself with pretty much anything that floats your boat. But make sure to give it to yourself only if you do the things.

7. Remind yourself why you’re doing what you’re doing 

Go back to your list of “procrastinating situations” and ask yourself one simple question about each. Why are these tasks even on your list in the first place? 

If going to the gym is on your list, ask yourself why you want to work out. Is it because you want to improve your health? Become fitter? Stronger? Happier? More confident?

What does each task really mean to you? Answering this question puts purpose behind your actions.

Next to each task you are putting off, write “I choose to”____ “because” ___.

For example: I choose to spend the next hour working on my side hustle because I want to build a successful business and live a certain lifestyle, and I will feel so empowered and accomplished the day it finally launches.

Zone in on your ‘why’ and connect with the real reason(s) you need to do something in the first place. 

Focus on this the next time you feel the urge to put something off.

If you can overcome procrastination, there’s no telling how successful you can be.

I hope these tips have helped you to finally get out of that procrastination rut you’ve been stuck in for so long.

Now that you know how to beat it, there’s no reason for procrastination to stand between you and your dreams and goals any longer.

Let me know which tips worked for you? Comment below and share this post with a friend!

And don’t forget to download you free procrastination workbook below…