Procrastination is not a problem of time management or of planning. Procrastinators are not different in their ability to estimate time, "Telling someone who procrastinates to buy a weekly planner is like telling someone with chronic depression to just "cheer up." Procrastinators disengage because they don’t self regulate. Self discipline is a monumental task so procrastinators tell themselves lies like “I’ll do that tomorrow" or “I am better under pressure”, then when tomorrow comes or pressure is added it is always someone else’s fault. So they shift failure or poor performance to situations, other people, circumstances and distractions.

Procrastinators destroy team work, relationships and foster resentment from others. So let's resolve to flip the script on the perils of procrastination. Try this:

1. Don't make tasks or circumstances bigger than they really are. I'm sure you have heard that things aren't always as good or bad as it seems. Addressing the situation may not be your favorite thing to do, but it will reduce stress and reduced stress will clear your head for better decisions. It is human nature to make the unknown ominous. Don't fall for that, address the issue and watch things get better.


2. Use tools to influence your conscience. What do you use everyday that will be a constant reminder of what's next. There are myriads of digital assets that will help keep tasks fresh. My suggestion is to use several, all reverberating the same message to address the task. I use the Ivy Lee method: At the end of each work day, write down the six most important things you need to accomplish tomorrow. Do not write down more than six tasks. Prioritize those six items in order of their true importance. When you arrive tomorrow, concentrate only on the first task. Work until the first task is finished before moving on to the second task. Approach the rest of your list in the same fashion. At the end of the day, move any unfinished items to a new list of six tasks for the following day. Repeat this process every working day.


3. When a task seems overbearing, procrastination often follows. So how can you break that task into smaller, more manageable parts? For example, if you want to write a book, you may choose to make an outline, identify each chapter, figure out the sections in the chapters, and then commit to writing one segment at a time. Chunking it down like this will help you feel less overwhelmed and more empowered.

Bonus tip: Forgive yourself. Stop beating yourself up about the past. Thoughts such as “I should have started earlier” or “I always procrastinate; I am such a loser” will only make matters worse.

Research shows that forgiving yourself for past procrastination will help you stop putting off working on a task.

These tips will help you defeat the perils of procrastination and make tasks, situations, and circumstances more meaningful and productive.