7 Ways to Overcome Procrastination That You Haven't Tried Yet

The clock sits quietly in the corner of your screen. 3:47 PM. That important report was supposed to be done by noon.

And guess what you are doing? You're reading, clicking, cleaning, and organizing - doing everything except the one thing that matters most.

It's not that you're lazy. Your mind just chooses the easy path when faced with tasks that feel too big, too boring, or too scary.

People often tell you that you should "just do it" or "try harder". But that's like telling someone who can't sleep to "just sleep". You wouldn't be reading this right now if it were so simple.

But here's the truth: procrastination isn't a character flaw. It's a habit. And like any habit, it can be broken.

So, in this blog post, I'm going to share 7 ways to overcome procrastination that don't work against your mind. Not exhausting fights of willpower, these are gentle practices that make it easier to take action.

1. Find Out Your Procrastination Triggers

Think for a moment: When do you usually procrastinate? Are there certain types of tasks? Particular times of day? Specific emotions?

Fear of failure, needing to be perfect, feeling overwhelmed, being bored with the task, or not knowing how to start are all common reasons people procrastinate. For me, I often procrastinate when I'm not clear about the next step or when I'm afraid of doing something poorly. Once I recognized these patterns, I could tackle them right away.

Handling your specific triggers is one of the most personalized 7 ways to overcome procrastination. Knowing the reasons behind your procrastination habit gives you the power to start changing them.

2. Make Big Tasks Smaller

A big task can feel like an impossible mountain to climb. When we're facing a major challenge, our brains often tell us to do something easier.

One of the 7 ways to overcome procrastination is to make the tasks you have smaller. It sounds hard to write a 20-page report, but writing just two pages today feels doable. For example, instead of "redesign website," you could say "choose color palette," "sketch homepage layout," and "write about page content." Every little win sends adrenaline to your brain, which makes you want to keep going.

Cross each mini-task off your list as you finish it. That one easy action gives you a strong sense of progress that fights procrastination.

3. Use Time Blocks for Your Day

Time blocking refers to setting specific time slots for specific tasks. For example, "I'll work on this sometime today" becomes "I'll work on this from 10:00 am to 11:30 am". This method stands out among 7 ways to overcome procrastination because it removes decision fatigue. You don't waste time trying to figure out what to do next when your day is planned out.

Here's how to make it work: each evening, schedule blocks for your most important tasks the next day. Be realistic about how long things take - many of us underestimate time needs.
Remember that time blocking is not about working all the time. It's about planning how you spend your time and making a framework that makes procrastination less likely.

4. Try the Pomodoro Technique: Work, Rest, Repeat

Our brains aren't made to concentrate for hours on end. You can use the Pomodoro Technique with the way your brain naturally works. Here's how this works: you give your full attention to your work for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break. Then, you take a longer 15–30 minute break after every four rounds.

This method makes starting easier than ever. Instead of thinking, "I need to work on this for three hours", you think, "I just need to focus for 25 minutes".

During work intervals, put your phone on silent, close any tabs that aren't needed, and only think about your tasks. Get up, move around, or get some water when the timer goes off, and then come back.

What makes this way effective is that it knows our limits while still pushing us to get things done. It breaks up the work into a bunch of short runs instead of a long, tiring marathon.

5. Practice the "Two-Minute Rule"

The Two-Minute Rule is super simple: If something takes less than two minutes to complete, do it right away.

This works for two reasons. First, it prevents small tasks from piling up. Second, it helps build momentum that can carry over to bigger tasks.

For me, I've found this method advantageous for email responses, washing dishes, making quick calls, or filing papers. When these little tasks add up, they're often used as reasons to procrastinate. By committing to just two minutes of work, you can also use it for larger projects. Often, once you start, you'll keep going for a long time after the two-minute mark is over because the hardest part was getting started.

6. Use Habitify to Remind and Track Your Progress

We are living in a technological era, so it would miss the point if we didn't talk about how technology can help you stop procrastinating. Habit tracking apps, such as Habitify, can be helpful to you in this situation.

When it's time to start a task, the app sends gentle reminders. This takes away the mental load of having to remember what needs to be done. The visual progress tracking in Habitify is what makes it particularly effective. Seeing chains of completed tasks that have been finished is a powerful way to maintain your motivation.

I started using Habitify to build a daily writing habit. Because the reminders kept me accountable, my increasing completion rate fostered positive feelings about my work, which, in turn, made procrastination less appealing.

The insights from the data also help you discover patterns in your productivity. You may find that you procrastinate more on Mondays or after lunch, which lets you use certain techniques during those vulnerable times.

7. Reward Yourself for Accomplishments

Give yourself a meaningful reward when you finish the task you've been putting off. This makes a positive connection with finishing something, which makes procrastination less likely in the future.

The important thing is to pick rewards that really motivate you. A quick walk outside, a favorite snack, or a quick game could be what you need.

Make sure the rewards you give are healthy and fit for the task. When you use rewards, tasks stop being things you "have to do" and become steps toward something you "want to get to".

Final Thoughts

We've covered 7 ways to overcome procrastination, from breaking down tasks to rewarding yourself.

But a method that works for one person might not work for someone else. As a result, think of the advice above as ideas that you can try out and see what works best for you.

When you want to procrastinate something important, remember the words of J. R. R. Tolkien in The Fellowship of the Ring: 

"It's the job that's never started as takes longest to finish".