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The root of procrastination isn't laziness, it's anxiety.

  • Writer: Jessica Morgan, MD, LMHC, HWC
    Jessica Morgan, MD, LMHC, HWC
  • May 2, 2024
  • 2 min read

And the cost of procrastination is the life you could’ve lived.


If you struggle with procrastination, here are 9 strategies:


1. Pomodoro Technique:


The Pomodoro Technique involves working in focused 25-minute increments, followed by a 5-minute break.


After 4 cycles, take a longer break of 15-30 minutes.


This technique will help you stay focused and avoid burnout


2. "2-Minute Rule":


If a task can be done in less than 2 minutes, do it immediately.


This helps to eliminate small tasks that can quickly add up and make you feel overwhelmed.


3. "5-Second Rule":


When you feel the urge to procrastinate, count down from 5 and take immediate action.


Count backward 5-4-3-2-1:


This helps to overcome the initial resistance to starting a task.


4. 1-3-5 rule:


At the start of each day, identify 1 big thing to accomplish, 3 medium things, and 5 small tasks.


Knock out those priorities first.


5. 80-20 rule:


Focus on the 20% of tasks that will produce 80% of the results.


This helps to prioritize tasks and avoid procrastination.


6. "Eat the frog":


Do your biggest, nastiest task first thing in the morning, while your willpower is highest.


It's energizing to get the hard stuff out of the way early.


7. "Not To-Do" list:


Identify tasks or activities that are not essential or that can be delegated, and stop doing them.


This helps to free up time and energy for more important tasks.


8. Break Tasks into Smaller Pieces:


One of the main reasons we procrastinate is because a task seems too big and overwhelming.


To make it more manageable, try breaking it down into smaller, more doable parts.


For example, if you have a big project, break it down into steps like researching, outlining, writing, and editing.


You'll feel less overwhelmed and more motivated to get started.


9. Eliminate multitasking:


Trying to juggle multiple tasks guarantees that your mind will wander.


Singletask with ruthless focus instead.


👍 2024 will be the year you overcome procrastination!


♻️ Too many people struggle with procrastination! Help them by sharing this!

1 Comment


Dayna Robinson
Dayna Robinson
May 23, 2024

I have learned recently that my procrastination is linked to my ADHD (which I was just diagnosed with last summer when I was 38 yrs old). Thanks for posting this, I will try these around my house and see what works best for me.

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