Conquering Procrastination

The truth about your Procrastination (and how to fix it)

Let’s be honest—we’ve all been there. You’ve got tasks piling up, deadlines looming, but somehow you find yourself scrolling through your phone or watching “just one more” video. Procrastination is a sneaky thing, and it affects even the most productive of us. It is not laziness; it is poor time management.

We procrastinate to feel better in the short term, but it leads to stress and guilt later.

When I worked at KPMG, we had a time-management training where I was introduced to a useful approach. All those annoying tasks—like making a dentist appointment or dealing with personal taxes—were referred to as “frogs.” They’re important, but not exactly exciting. We were taught to “eat the frog” first thing in the morning. Instead of spending the day dreading that task, you tackle it right away, giving you a sense of accomplishment early on.

Another piece of advice we were given was to break down massive tasks (or “mammoths”) into smaller, more manageable pieces (or “beefsteaks”). This makes the work feel less overwhelming, and helps you make steady progress without feeling paralysed by the size of the task.

The hardest part is starting. One thing that’s helped me personally is the “5-minute rule.” If you’re dreading a task, just commit to doing it for 5 minutes. Often, once you start, momentum kicks in, and you end up working much longer than you planned. If after 5 min you still don’t feel like working, just stop.

You procrastinate because your goals are vague. Set clear, specific, achievable goals with defined deadlines. The more specific you are, the easier it is to achieve your goals, and the less you’ll procrastinate.

Other useful tip is “2-minute rule”. If a task can be done in two minutes or less, just do it immediately. This keeps small tasks from building up and overwhelming you later. It’s a quick way to maintain momentum and reduce mental clutter.

You procrastinate because you criticize yourself. Self-criticism makes it harder to start and finish tasks. Statements like “It’s too late now” or “It’s not worth it anymore” kill your motivation. Instead, accept your procrastination and use it as a learning experience rather than a roadblock.

And let’s not forget about rewards. Sometimes, it’s all about incentivising yourself. Set small rewards for completing tasks, whether it’s a break, a snack, or even time to binge your favourite Netflix show later. It gives you something to look forward to and keeps you motivated.

At the end of the day, productivity isn’t about being busy all the time. It’s about focusing on what truly matters and making consistent progress. Even the tiniest progress is still a progress.

Keep pushing 💪

Karina

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