I have been telling myself all day that I need to write my atomic essay—and yet, somehow, I’ve done everything but that. I folded laundry. Watched a movie. Snacked on things I wasn’t even hungry for. The essay remained unwritten, though it kept hovering in my thoughts like a quiet alarm I couldn’t turn off.
This happens to me a lot.
Eventually, I realized something very simple but powerful: nothing gets done unless I actually do it. No amount of thinking, worrying, or planning makes the task complete. Worse, all that mental energy I spend thinking about doing it wears me out—before I’ve even started. Over time, I’ve developed four simple strategies that help me stop procrastinating and start taking action.
Negotiate the Time
When I feel resistance, I don’t fight it—I negotiate. I talk myself into doing the task for just 5 to 15 minutes. That’s it. Not because it’s enough to finish, but because it’s enough to start. Once I’m in motion, the momentum usually carries me further. What once felt like a huge burden now just feels like something I’m already doing.
This trick works every time, but here’s the key: you have to do it early, before the procrastination has time to dig in and take root.
Set the Timer
After the negotiation, I set a timer. A small window of time—like 10 or 15 minutes—feels doable, even when I’m overwhelmed or unmotivated. I tell myself, “You don’t have to finish—just work until the timer goes off.” But almost every time, I get into a groove and keep going. The timer just gives me permission to start without pressure.
It also creates a clear boundary. When time is limited, focus sharpens. I stop fussing over perfection and just get it out.
Don’t Overthink the Task
Often, procrastination is powered by perfectionism or fear—fear that the work won’t be good, or that I won’t know what I’m doing. But once I start, I realize the task isn’t as hard or complicated as I imagined. The hardest part is thinking aboutthe task, not doing it. By removing the pressure to “get it right” and focusing on making progress instead, I ease myself into action.
Don’t let your brain turn a simple task into a towering mountain. Start messy. Start wrong. Just start.
Celebrate Every Win
When I follow through—even for just 10 or 15 minutes—I acknowledge it. I take a moment to feel good about the progress. That small sense of accomplishment builds trust with myself. I prove that I can be someone who takes action, not just someone who thinks about it.
Today, I gave myself 15 minutes to write, and guess what? I’m finishing the essay. I almost didn’t start, but the timer trick did its magic again.
Procrastination isn’t a flaw, it’s simply a habit. That means that it can be changed! You can do it, one step at a time.