I’ve battled procrastination for years. It’s been a constant obstacle, slowing me down in school, work, and now, in building my blog and life.
My earliest memory of procrastination dates back to high school. I hated math; boring, pointless, and way too hard. Worse, it came effortlessly to others, and my teachers barely noticed those of us who struggled. So I checked out completely. No homework. No studying. No effort.
Despite knowing I needed good grades to get into university in Kenya, I kept pushing the work aside. Excuses piled up: “I’ll do it tomorrow,” “It’s too hard,” “I’m too tired.” When the final exam arrived, I froze. I failed. Hard.
That failure haunted me but taught me something crucial: procrastination isn’t about laziness. It’s about patterns, emotions, and choices.
Fast forward to now. I’m a blogger, have a part-time job, and life and procrastination still shows up. Writing, chores, self-care habits they all get delayed. But over time, I’ve developed strategies that actually help me overcome the urge to stall.
Here’s What Works for Me (and Maybe Can Work for You)
Keep Your Work Tools Visible
When my laptop is out of sight, writing somehow disappears from my mind.
Having it open or closed nearby acts as a constant, silent reminder of what I need to do. It reduces friction in getting started.
Takeaway: Make your workspace and tools visible to keep your goals top of mind.
Start Before You Overthink
Thinking too much kills momentum. Waiting to feel inspired or “ready” is a trap.
I force myself to just sit at my office space, no matter how rough. Often, that first step breaks the freeze.
Takeaway: Begin with small, low-pressure actions before motivation kicks in.
Find the Easiest Version That Still Counts
I love books, but sitting down to read physical ones? Feels like a chore.
So I listen to audiobooks while doing other stuff; chores, errands, whatever. It makes reading feel easy and natural, so I actually do it more.
Takeaway: If something feels like a struggle, find a version that makes it frictionless. You’re more likely to stick with it.
Pair Boring Tasks with Enjoyment
I save specific shows or podcasts just for chore time. This turns the boring repetitive tasks into something I look forward to, reducing resistance.
Takeaway: Link unpleasant tasks with rewards to make them more appealing.
Break Tasks into Tiny Steps
I used to aim for perfect workouts or deep cleaning sessions and fail. Now, I do just aim to do like a 10 minute workout or just clean the kitchen. This removes pressure and sometimes I find myself doing even more.
Takeaway: Lower the entry barrier by doing the smallest possible version of a task.
Track Small Wins
I mark days when I make progress even if it’s just 15 minutes of workout or finishing a draft. This counters the negative voice that says, “You never finish anything.”
Takeaway: Use simple tracking to reinforce positive habits and build momentum.
What You and I Can Learn from This
1. Momentum > Motivation
Waiting to “feel like it” is a trap. Action creates energy. Just start, even for five minutes.
2. The First Step Matters Most
Make it so small you can’t say no. One sentence. One dish. One drawer. It shifts everything.
3. Small Wins Are Powerful
Tiny actions build trust with yourself. Don’t underestimate what 10 focused minutes can do.
4. Set Up Your Space to Help You
Your environment shapes your behavior. Keep tools visible, distractions out of reach.
5. Pick Your Pain
There’s discomfort in starting, but more in avoiding. Choose the one that moves you forward.
6. Be Kind to Yourself
Shame fuels the cycle. Compassion breaks it. Reset without drama and try again.
7. Outsmart Your Brain
Use rewards, timers, and pairings to trick yourself into motion. It works more than willpower.
8. Failure Isn’t Final
Messing up doesn’t mean you’re doomed. Learn, adjust, move on.
Wrapping up...
Procrastination never fully disappears.
It creeps in when life is tough or goals feel big. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s awareness, experimentation, and showing up anyway.
Start small, stay curious, and remember: doing something, even badly, beats doing nothing.
Ciao!
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