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PRODUCTIVITY... How to overcome procrastination.

Elliot Hutchinson

I always remind my clients how motivation comes about: discipline! There's no secret method other than you just have to get started & the motivation will follow. There are, however, lots of ways to help hold yourself accountable & get going. So let's go through them so you can implement what works for you!


Procrastination is the art of delaying tasks as late as we can, despite the potentially negative consequences. Humans are terrible at judging time; we think things will take less time than they do. We try to find a false sense of security to convince ourselves all is fine & we can wait until we are in "the right frame of mind." This rarely ever comes.

As well as raw discipline, we need to get over our "present bias" in order to overcome procrastination. This is a natural human need for instant gratification which inevitably prevents us from wanting to complete tasks with a long term pay-off. An instinct that told ancient humans to worry more about where this evenings meal is coming from than what months migration would entail. And although our lives have changed since then, our brains are yet to catch up, so procrastination is a defence mechanism against getting too complacent.


Another thing to consider is what kind of procrastinator you are, which will help you identify your weaknesses. They are:

Perfectionist: Puts off tasks out of the fear of not being able to complete a task perfectly.

Dreamer: Puts off tasks because they are not good at paying attention to detail.

Defier: Doesn't believe someone should dictate their time schedule.

Worrier: Puts off tasks out of fear of change or leaving the comfort of "the known".

Crisis-maker: Puts off tasks because they like working under pressure.

Overdoer: Takes on too much and struggles with finding time to start & complete task.

The following can then be used to combat this procrastination, try some or all of them and see what works for you (we're all different). Some of them will sound super simple, but when done properly they can work wonders!

To-do lists: To keep you on track, consider placing a due date next to each item.

Baby steps: Break down items into manageable steps that aren't so overwhelming.

Recognise warning signs: Look out for thoughts of procrastination & resist the urge. If you think about procrastinating, really force yourself to spend a few minutes working on your task.

Eliminate distractions: Ask yourself what pulls your attention away the most, whether it's Instagram, Facebook updates, or the TV. Then turn off those sources of distraction for a period of work.

Set rewards: When tasks are completed you can reward yourself, this helps to overcome present bias that we mentioned earlier.


Sleep is of course another way to combat procrastination as we're far more likely to procrastinate on tasks when we are tired. An important breakthrough I have made in writing this is the realisation that procrastination is an emotional function. This means that we need to be self-aware enough to recognise our emotional responses when tasks need doing, & no amount of time management apps etc. are going to be as effective as setting small goals that reward our emotional brain immediately for doing the right thing. Forgiving ourselves for procrastinating comes first & also eliminates that feeling of anxiety procrastination brings with it. Add in some consistency & watch your productivity soar!


Writing about it is one thing but actually doing it is the hard bit. Contact us if this is something you need help with but in the meantime, just get started!

See you next week :)


Elliot Hutchinson // 12.05.2024

© The Coaching Collective


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