Procrastination—the sneaky little gremlin that turns a five-minute task into an all-day saga. We’ve all been there. Staring at a to-do list, deciding that right now is the perfect time to reorganize the fridge or deep-dive into conspiracy theories about pigeons. (Are they real? The jury’s still out.)

Anyway, if you’re tired of playing this game with yourself, good news: kicking procrastination to the curb is totally doable.

Step 1: Figure Out Why You’re Procrastinating

Not all procrastination is the same. Sometimes, it’s fear. Sometimes, it’s boredom. And sometimes, it’s just because the task sucks. (Looking at you, tax season.)

• Scared of messing up? Lower the stakes. Just start, even if it’s ugly.
• Too overwhelming? Chop it into teeny-tiny pieces. Like, “write one sentence” tiny.
• Zero motivation? Bribe yourself. Coffee, cookies, five minutes of doomscrolling—whatever works.

Step 2: The Two-Minute Rule (It’s Like a Cheat Code for Productivity)

Ever said, “I’ll do it later” and then later becomes never? Yeah, same. Enter the Two-Minute Rule: If something takes two minutes or less, just do it right now.

If it takes longer? Tell yourself you’ll just start it for two minutes. Nine times out of ten, you’ll keep going. (Tricking your own brain is an elite life skill.)

Step 3: Eat the Frog (No, Not Literally, Unless You’re Into That)

Mark Twain once said, “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning, and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” Translation? Do the hardest, ugliest task first.

Got multiple frogs? Eat the biggest, slimiest one first. Then, everything else feels like a breeze.

Step 4: Reward Yourself Like a Toddler

Humans are just big kids. We do things faster when there’s a treat at the end. Finished that dreadful report? Boom, coffee break. Cleaned out your inbox? Time for an episode of your favorite show.

Just don’t reward yourself too much or you’ll end up watching an entire season of TV instead of working. (Speaking from experience here.)

Step 5: Set a Fake Deadline (Because Real Ones Don’t Scare You Enough)

Actual deadlines? Too far away to feel urgent. Set a fake one. Tell yourself that project is due by 3 PM, even if it’s actually due next week. Your brain will panic just enough to get moving.

Bonus points if you tell someone else your fake deadline—because now, if you don’t finish on time, you look like a liar and a procrastinator.

Step 6: Make It a Game

Gamify your tasks. Set a timer and race against it. Try the Pomodoro Technique—25 minutes of work, 5-minute break, repeat. Or challenge a friend: “First one to finish their work gets a free coffee.” A little friendly competition never hurts.

Step 7: Change the Scenery

Your workspace could be the problem. Working from bed? Too cozy. Desk covered in clutter? Too distracting. Move somewhere else. Even switching to a coffee shop or library can trick your brain into work mode.

And if all else fails? Stand up, do a victory lap around your apartment, and start fresh.

Step 8: Find an Accountability Buddy

Telling someone your goal makes you way more likely to follow through. Ask a friend to check in, or use an accountability app. Because nothing motivates quite like the fear of admitting you did nothing all day.

Step 9: Stop Waiting for Perfection

Newsflash: done is better than perfect. Perfectionism is just procrastination in disguise. If you wait for everything to be just right, you’ll never start. Get a rough draft down. Polish it later.

(Spoiler: Most people can’t tell the difference between a 90% perfect task and a 100% perfect one anyway.)

Step 10: Forgive Yourself and Move On

Some days, procrastination wins. That’s fine. Beating yourself up won’t help. Just reset and try again tomorrow. Progress > Perfection.

The Bottom Line

Procrastination isn’t an unbreakable curse—it’s just a habit. And habits can be changed. Start small. Stay consistent. Before you know it, you’ll actually be that person who gets things done. (And maybe, just maybe, I’ll finally stop putting off cleaning out my car. Maybe.)