How to Beat Procrastination in Less Than 5 Minutes
Before you skip this article and tell yourself, “I will read it later,”
chill and give me 3 minutes of your entire 24 hours.
Yes, it is only a small amount of time.
We are all procrastinators on some level; some are just on higher levels.
But procrastination is one of the worst habits that kills your potential
and stops you from living your best life.
You tell yourself you are going to do it tomorrow,
but tomorrow comes, and you postpone it again.
You waste your time and potential while life keeps on going.
If you are a deep procrastinator, ask yourself once:
“Which life would I be living if I didn’t procrastinate that much?”
Indulge yourself in that possible reality and let it sink into your mind.
Here are the 5 actionable steps you can take to beat procrastination:
1. The “To-Start” List
Take your list of overwhelming tasks
and break them down into their simplest first step.
This is not a to-do list but a to-start list.
To-Do List ❌
- Write the article
- Go for a run
- Record a video
- Clean the apartment
To-Start List ✅
- Write the first sentence of the article
- Put on running shoes
- Set up the camera
- Clean the kitchen table
2. Temptation Bundling
Pair the thing you have to do with the thing you want to do.
- Watch Netflix while walking on the treadmill.
- Listen to a podcast while doing the laundry.
You’ll teach your brain to crave tough tasks.
Start with easier tasks first,
then increase the difficulty every week.
- Go on a hike.
- Go to the gym 3 days a week.
- Read 5 pages of a new book.
- Dedicate 60 minutes to a new hobby per week.
- Sleep at least 7 hours per night.
3. The 5-Minute Rule
Starting is the hardest part. Try this:
- Set a timer for 5 minutes.
- Work on a task you’ve been putting off.
- After 5 minutes, you can stop (if you want).
95% of the time, you’ll want to keep going once you’ve started.
Don’t think about all the time you are going to spend doing a task;
just start for 5 minutes.
Start exercising, start reading, start cleaning the house,
start working on the project.
4. The “Do Nothing” Principle
Want to get something done? Give yourself two options:
- Do the task.
- Do nothing (literally).
It’s amazing how appealing a task seems
when the only other option is boredom.
If you didn’t start working on the task in the time you set,
don’t work on it.
Just lie down and do nothing.
Yes, do absolutely nothing, no matter what comes to your mind.
It is just one task or no task at all.
5. Add Accountability
Tell a friend you’re starting the task.
Then ask them to check in on your progress in an hour.
A little external commitment goes a long way.
