We rely heavily on our motivation to achieve our goals and realize our dreams. Unfortunately, motivation isn’t always there, so procrastination takes its place. What does procrastination mean? We think we’re doing things, but in the end we don’t make any progress, and that frustrates us more and more. That’s why I’ve come up with 11 tips to put a stop to procrastination.

1 – Break down your goal into small actions to avoid procrastination

More often than not, procrastination occurs because we’re afraid. Indeed, setting out to achieve a goal or dream is frightening, simply because it requires us to do things we’ve never done before.

Fear blocks us, because it makes us doubt our skills and qualities, sometimes even our worth: “Who am I to achieve this goal or realize this dream?”

That’s why the best thing to do is not to arouse fear.

To do this, instead of taking big leaps and big actions that scare us, we’re going to take tiny steps and tiny actions that don’t scare us at all.

This method has a name: the Kaizen method. It’s the art of taking small steps to change your life. I heartily recommend Robert Maurer’s book “One small step can change your life”, full of inspiring testimonials from people who have changed their lives.

How do you stop procrastination? By taking small actions that don’t scare you.

In practical terms, the key to taking small actions rather than big ones is to understand and accept that the goal is not to reach our objective as quickly as possible, but to make the journey to get there as joyful as possible.

We’re not here to prove anything, we’re here to be happy. So move forward slowly, but surely, with joy and good humour.

2 – Provide rewards to stop procrastination

To stop procrastinating, we need to schedule rewards.

Indeed, saying to yourself, “Okay, this week I’m going to do this and this, and if I do, at the end of the week I’ll do this to reward myself.”

It’s a great motivational lever!

An even more original method is to plan punishments for procrastination.

“If this week I haven’t done this and that, then at the end of the week, I won’t do that.”

It can go even further. Indeed, I read that someone had made it a punishment to give a cheque for 100 euros to a political party he hated if he didn’t meet his targets.

It’s a bit harsh as a punishment, but that said, it makes it all the easier to avoid procrastinating.

3 – Commitment

To stop procrastination, it’s a good idea to make a commitment to people you trust. That way, our ego will come to our aid.

Nobody likes it when others point out that they haven’t kept their promises. That’s why, when we commit to people we trust, we’re going to avoid procrastination at all costs.

We can go even further. Yes, we can team up with other people.

Is your goal to prepare for a marathon, learn a language, lose weight? Why not ask around and see if anyone else is interested? Or why not look for someone on the Internet to team up with?

Teaming up will help you find motivation when you’ve run out of it.

4 – Ask for support to avoid procrastination

Above all, don’t hesitate to ask for support from the people around you. It’s normal to lose motivation and start procrastinating, so ask those around you for encouragement.

If you can’t find any, look for inspiration on the Internet. It’s full of testimonials from people who have also experienced procrastination and managed to overcome it.

All too often, we expect things of others without actually saying so. Ask and you shall receive, or seek and you shall find!

5 – Follow a rule: never two days in a row

We’re not machines, and there will be days when we don’t feel like it or don’t have the time.

It’s only natural.

However, I wholeheartedly invite you to follow one rule: never two days in a row.

In other words, you’re allowed to do nothing today, but the next day, do something.

The problem is that you get used to doing nothing far too quickly, and when you have to get back into action, it’s harder and harder.

How do you stop procrastination? Never two days in a row. It’s as simple as that.

6 – Surround yourself with quotes to avoid procrastination

A simple tip, but so effective.

Words have great power over us. Some more than others.

That’s why, when you set out to achieve a goal or a dream, take the time to look for quotes that speak to you, that motivate you. Write them down on scraps of paper and hang them up EVERYWHERE!

At home, at the office, in your car, in your diary… Everywhere!

Change them regularly to make the biggest possible impact.

7 – Stay inspired

Beyond quotes, there are other people’s stories and testimonials. I wholeheartedly invite you to stop procrastinating by reading the biographies of people who have achieved what you want to achieve.

You can also find films that tell their stories or videos on the Internet.

All this inspiration will give you wings and help you stay motivated.

Read, listen, take advice, keep hope alive, keep moving forward.

How do you stop procrastination? By staying inspired all the time!

8 – Love and praise yourself to combat procrastination

We all too often forget this, but it’s more than necessary to regularly acknowledge everything we do, day after day, in order to move forward.

Our attention is focused on everything we still have to do, and in the long run, this demotivates us.

So learn to congratulate yourself, to keep telling yourself how good and courageous you are.

Remind yourself to love yourself every day.

It’s not when you’ve reached your goal that you’ll be worthy of love; you’re already worthy of love.

How do you stop procrastination? By reminding yourself that you’re already valuable.

9 – Don’t lock yourself into your goal

Sometimes we put too much pressure on ourselves to move forward, and we procrastinate.

You’re not what you do, you’re much more than that.

Remember that your goal won’t make you a big deal, you’re already a big deal.

Don’t lock yourself into what you’re doing, into your goal.

On the contrary, keep on living, feeling and laughing.

How do you stop procrastination? By understanding that you’re not a machine, but a human being. Keep on living. Don’t get bogged down in your goal and the things you have to do.

10 – Repeat as many times as necessary

Indeed, there will be setbacks, difficulties, obstacles and even failures.

This is perfectly normal.

Nothing happens in a straight line. There are ups and downs.

That’s why you need to learn to cope better with failure. Understand that you simply have to start again and again, and that’s perfectly normal.

Smile. Relax. And try again.

How do you stop procrastination? By accepting that failure is part of the process.

11 – Ask death for advice on how to stop procrastinating

Procrastination is a kind of waste of time.

And yet, on average, we have 30,000 days to live.

It’s up to us to decide to live them to the full, to give them meaning.

Whenever you procrastinate, remember that your time on Earth is limited, and if there are things you want to experience, now is the perfect time! So go for it.

Stop pretending, stop being afraid, stop making yourself believe you’re not worth it.

You are, and it’s worth it.

After all, these 30,000 days belong to you alone, and no one else will live them for you.

How do you stop procrastination? By remembering that our life has an end and that all the time we receive each day is a gift.

Find out more:

I invite you to read these 2 complementary articles:

Discover ʟᴏꜱꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴍᴏᴛɪᴠᴀᴛɪᴏɴ: 5 ᴛɪᴘꜱ ᴛᴏ ɢɪᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀꜱᴇʟꜰ ᴀ ʙᴏᴏꜱᴛ!
Discover Learning to dare: undertaking one’s own projects

I also recommend this inspiring book on the subject:

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield

This book discusses the notion of resistance, which embraces procrastination and self-sabotage. The author presents ideas and strategies for overcoming creative blocks.
The general insights and perspectives offered by the author are very good.

Thank you very much for reading this article.

If you liked it, let me know in the comments.

Take care of yourself.