How to Overcome Procrastination and Get Things Done
Imagine how much progress you’d make if procrastination never stood in your way. The projects you would complete, the goals you would smash, the confidence you would build — it’s not hard to see how different life could be. Procrastination isn’t just a harmless delay; it’s a silent killer of success. It’s the thief of time, and it can derail your ambitions before they even get started.
The connection between procrastination and lack of success is painfully obvious. Think about your most accomplished friend. Are they a chronic procrastinator? Probably not. Now think about someone who never seems to get anywhere. How often do they put things off? Exactly.
Before you can start to plan your success goals, there are many things that you need to understand before you can be sure that the goals you set are really the ones you want.
One of those things is to determine if there are any Limiting Beliefs that can stop you from actually achieving those goals.
I have a self-study Limiting Belief Program that you can go through to determine what your Limiting Beliefs are and how you can remove them.
You can read more and register for the program at Limiting Beliefs Program on my Confidence and Life Coaching website.
Start your journey on your path to success by identifying and removing your Limiting Beliefs so that you make the journey a lot easier.
You can download a free PDF containing five articles on Limiting Beliefs and how to overcome them and achieve things in your career and personal life.
The PDF can be downloaded here (and you don’t have to register or provide an email address)
Download the file and go over the other material that you can find on the Confidence and Life Coaching website.
If you are ready to move even further into the process of Identifying and removing and replacing your Limiting Beliefs, you should consider my short Limiting Belief’s Coaching Program
Waiting until the last second to start a task guarantees two things: stress and mediocrity. Elegant solutions and creative brilliance rarely come under pressure. Most of the time, you’re scrambling just to finish at all. Let’s dig deeper into why we procrastinate and, more importantly, how to stop.
1. Fear of Failure
Fear of failure tops the list. It’s paralyzing because trying and failing feels worse than not trying at all. Or so we tell ourselves.
The fix:
- Reframe failure. It’s not final; it’s feedback. Every failure is a step closer to success if you choose to learn from it.
- Expect to fail sometimes. Accept it upfront. Every failure is a normal part of the growth process. Trying, failing, learning and trying again is how everything worthwhile is achieved.
2. Perfectionism
Chasing perfection is another way we paralyze ourselves. Nothing in life is perfect — not timing, not conditions and certainly not outcomes. Waiting for “perfect” guarantees you’ll never start.
The fix:
- Decide how “good” is good enough.
- Accept that mistakes and imperfections are part of the process. Action beats endless planning every time.
3. Bad Habits Around Starting
Getting started is half the battle. Some people build habits that make starting automatic. Others build habits that delay action.
The fix:
- Build the “just start” habit. Commit to doing just two minutes of a task. Once you begin, momentum often carries you further.
- Remove friction. Set up your environment so starting is easy. Minimize distractions. Lay out materials ahead of time.
4. Lack of Self-Discipline
Self-discipline is like a muscle. If you rarely use it, it stays weak. And when you need it most, it won’t be there for you.
The fix:
- Use your discipline to build automatic habits.
- Save your willpower for starting. Once habits are built, they run with much less effort.
5. Fear of Success
It sounds absurd, but fear of success is real. Success brings visibility, higher expectations and greater responsibility — all things that can trigger fear.
The fix:
- Recognize that success won’t make life harder; it will make life better.
- Trust that you can handle new challenges as they come. Growth isn’t comfortable, but it is worth it.
6. Discomfort Avoidance
At the root of procrastination is discomfort. Starting a hard or boring task feels uncomfortable. So, we seek immediate relief by avoiding it. Short-term comfort wins over long-term progress.
The fix:
- Strengthen your discomfort tolerance. Start small with mildly uncomfortable tasks.
- Create a bias toward action. Remind yourself that discomfort is temporary but regret can last forever.
Practical Steps to Beat Procrastination
1. Break it down. Large projects intimidate. Break them into small, clear tasks. Each tiny win builds momentum.
2. Use the “2-Minute Rule.” If something takes two minutes or less, do it immediately. Often, you’ll keep going once you’ve started.
3. Set deadlines. Deadlines create urgency. If none exist, make your own. Public accountability helps, too.
4. Reward yourself. Positive reinforcement works. Promise yourself a small reward after completing a task.
5. Eliminate distractions. Put your phone away. Shut down unnecessary tabs. Protect your focus like it’s your most valuable asset — because it is.
6. Visualize the cost of delay. Think about what procrastination is costing you: lost time, missed opportunities, added stress. Make the pain of not acting feel real and immediate.
7. Build routines. Consistency beats intensity. Make work a habit, not a decision you have to wrestle with every day.
Final Thoughts
Procrastination is not a character flaw; it’s a behaviour. And behaviours can change. Every time you choose action over delay, you weaken the habit of procrastination and strengthen your ability to create the life you want.
Eliminating procrastination means more than just getting more done. It means living with less stress, having more confidence and creating the future you dream about. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to start — now.
To talk about any aspect of success or working with a Life Coach to help you to achieve success, you can book a 30-minute call by clicking on the blue button below.
Don’t try to do all of this by yourself, ask and receive the guidance that can get you moving towards your own success.
Working together can help you overcome personal and professional barriers, ensuring you reach your highest potential.
Nothing happens until action is taken.
To your success.
Michael
P.S if you want to find out more about my programs just check out the site Confidence and Life Coaching
P.P.S. If you enjoy reading these articles on my blog, I have more books that have more of this type of information that you can find out more about at Books to Read. You can buy these ebooks at many on-line book stores. The links to the bookstores are at the link above.
P.P.P.S. You can download a free PDF containing five articles on Limiting Beliefs and how to overcome them and achieve things in your career and personal life.
The PDF can be downloaded here (and you don’t have to register or provide an email address)
Download the file and go over the other material that you can find on the Confidence and Life Coaching website.
P.P.P.P.S. If you are ready to move even further into the process of Identifying and removing and replacing your Limiting Beliefs, you should consider my short Limiting Belief’s Coaching Program
P.P.P.P.P.S. I have posted a series of articles on the “Fear of Success” at Confidence and Life Coaching. You can also request a free PDF of all 4-articles by sending me an email message at michael@coachmichaelw.com
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash
