To overcome procrastination you must start by identifying the problem. 

Start here

Procrastination. It’s a word that strikes fear into hearts and lowers self-esteem. Nobody wants to admit it, nobody wants to be seen doing it. But the truth is — we all do procrastinate from time to time. Instead of beating yourself up about it, face up to the problem and try some of the tips available for getting rid of procrastination once and for all.

Procrastination is the thief of time. It steals our joy and our ability to achieve the fullness that God intends for us. Sometimes procrastination is a problem in and of itself, but most of the time it is a symptom of some greater issue in your life. 

The key to overcoming procrastination is to understand what triggers it in you so that you can then remove those things or change them to something else. There are many different strategies for overcoming procrastination, but here’s how I’ve overcome it in my own life: 

Keep in mind

Step 1: Identify the problem

The first thing you need to do is identify what type of procrastinator you are. Some people have trouble starting because they aren’t sure where to begin.

Identify at least one problem and do whatever you can to eradicate or ease away from it. For myself it was self-confidence. I am so scared of what other people think of me or about me I would rather not do anything.

Step 2: Start small

When you tackle procrastination, it’s usually best to start small. Overcoming an ingrained habit isn’t easy. Here’s a unique perspective by Charles Duhigg model of the the Habit Loop.

The Habit Loop

The Habit Loop is the key to overcoming procrastination. It is a simple 3-step process that you must follow if you want to change your bad habits and start achieving great things. 

Step 1: Cue. 

A cue is something that causes or reminds you to do something. Examples of cues are time, location, emotion, other people around you, and even physiological responses (like feeling hungry).

For example – if you enjoy writing when you are all alone and there are no distractions, you need to re-create that environment for yourself. Make it easy to access the thing that feels so far away. Put off your phone and leave it out of reach.

Step 2: Routine. 

A routine is an actual habit itself (eating, working, etc.). 

Once everything is super quiet and your writing material is all set up and ready to go, make sure you have enough water and something to chew on. Make it as comfortable as you possibly can. We all know that the slightest deviation is an excuse to get up and do something else

Step 3: Reward. 

A reward is something that immediately follows the habit and gives you a sense of satisfaction or accomplishment. The reward might be physical (lifting weights), emotional (feeling accomplished), or even mental (feeling proud).

Look at that. You have finished yet another page!!

In Conclusion

As long as you have a goal that matters to you and a habit that leads to it, you’ll be able to overcome procrastination. It won’t mean instant, effortless success in achieving your goals—there will inevitably be bumps along the road.

But if you focus on your goal and work your habit a little bit each day, then you can gradually put yourself into an upward spiral of productivity that will carry on for as long as you remain committed to your habit and its accompanying goal.

And if a distracting impulse comes up, it’s okay to let yourself indulge in it a little bit, as long as you go right back to working on your habit after. Ultimately, though, the key is to remember that staying productive isn’t about constant vigilance—it’s about building positive habits that eventually take care of themselves.

It’s also important not to forget where you are heading. So be sure to remind yourself what this whole experience is all about. You might even find that writing it down will help keep you focused on what’s most important.