I Procrastinate for 3 Hours Before Starting Work. Here’s How I Solved the Problem.

Given this predicament, how does the procrastinator ever manage to accomplish anything?

First, establish an overall time limit. For example, you might have twenty minutes before a meeting. Instead of working on a minor task that fits into the time available, you begin a major task, say a report that will take hours to complete (and that you certainly would’ve procrastinated on). Contain the time by setting a timer. Don’t, however, set

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Of course, this is no way to live. Even for the procrastinator who does manage to eventually get things done and remain a competent member of society, something has to change. Here are the main reasons why:

1) It’s unpleasant. Far too much of the procrastinator’s precious time is spent toiling in the Dark Playground, time that could have been spent enjoying satisfying, well-earned leisure if things had been done on a more logical schedule. And panic isn’t fun for anyone.

Before any interaction with a screen, I write down, in a notebook, what I intend to do. Then, as soon as I’m done doing that thing, I walk away (close the laptop, put the phone down, literally walk away, etc).