From Procrastinator to Go-Getter: How to Get Stuff Done (Without Losing Your Mind)

The Productivity Guide for People Who Love Procrastinating

Ah, our old friend, procrastination. The ancient art of delaying the important by focusing on the absolutely unnecessary. If you’ve ever spent an afternoon alphabetising your spice rack instead of replying to that urgent email, or suddenly felt the overwhelming need to reorganise your books by colour rather than tackling that looming deadline, you’re in the right place.

But here’s the good news: you don’t need to become a productivity robot to get things done. You can, in fact, master the delicate balance of achieving your goals while still indulging in the all-important art of procrastination. Consider this your ultimate guide to structured avoidance—where you still tick things off your list, but with enough detours to keep your creative soul happy.

Why Do We Procrastinate?

Procrastination isn’t just laziness in disguise. In fact, it’s often tied to deeper psychological factors. Here are some common culprits:

• Fear of Failure: If we’re afraid we won’t do a task well, we might delay starting it altogether. After all, you can’t fail if you don’t try, right? (Spoiler: This logic is a trap.)

• Overwhelm: Facing a massive, complex task can leave us feeling paralysed. It’s easier to scroll through social media than tackle that 50-slide presentation.

• Perfectionism: Waiting for the “perfect” moment or ideal conditions to begin is a recipe for indefinite delays.

• Lack of Interest: Let’s face it—some tasks are just plain boring. Filing taxes or organising your inbox doesn’t exactly spark joy.

• Short-Term Gratification: Humans are wired to prioritise immediate pleasure over long-term rewards. Netflix now feels more appealing than a finished project later.

The Stress-Procrastination Connection

Research shows that procrastination isn’t just a harmless quirk; it can have serious consequences for our mental health. A study published in the journal Psychological Science found that chronic procrastinators experience higher levels of stress, lower well-being, and even increased health problems over time. Delaying tasks creates a vicious cycle: procrastination leads to stress, which leads to more procrastination.

Stat Alert: According to a survey by the American Psychological Association, over 20% of people identify as chronic procrastinators. If procrastination were an Olympic sport, we’d all be contenders.

So, How Can You Make Life Easier?

We do have a few hints and tips that can get you going and help you minimise your champion procrastinating. Once you embrace these, then you can surge full steam ahead and smash our 7 strategies for overcoming procrastination that we have laid out further down this post. Our hints and tips to get going are:

1. Accept Who You Are - First things first, stop trying to fight your inner procrastinator. If you love putting things off, embrace it. You’re not lazy; you’re just engaging in a highly strategic form of task management (we’ll call it “creative prioritisation”). Instead of forcing yourself into a rigid productivity system that makes you miserable, work with your natural tendencies. If you know you’ll delay a big task, plan for that. Make your procrastination part of the process.

2. Harness the Power of “Productive Procrastination” - If you’re going to procrastinate, at least make it work for you. Instead of mindlessly scrolling social media for hours (unless it’s research—wink wink), engage in what I call Productive Procrastination. This is when you delay one task by completing another semi-useful task instead. Examples include:

   • Tidying your workspace before writing that report

   • Answering emails when you should be doing deep work

   • Colour-coding your notes instead of studying them

   • Taking a “thinking” walk before starting a big project (and then possibly extending that into a thinking nap)

   This way, even your procrastination has an air of achievement to it.

3. The 10-Minute Trick (aka, The Anti-Procrastination Loophole) - Getting started is often the hardest part. So, trick your brain by committing to just ten minutes of a dreaded task. That’s it. Just ten minutes. If, after ten minutes, you still want to quit, you have permission to walk away guilt-free. Spoiler alert: You probably won’t. Because once you start, momentum kicks in, and before you know it, you’re deep into the work you were avoiding. The hardest part is always those first few minutes—after that, it’s (mostly) smooth sailing.

4. Set “Fake” Deadlines (Because Real Ones Clearly Don’t Work) - If a deadline is two weeks away, your brain will consider it non-existent. Enter the magic of self-imposed, fake deadlines. Tell yourself that a task is due tomorrow when it’s actually due next Friday. Even better, make yourself accountable to someone—a friend, a colleague, or a group chat of fellow procrastinators who can lovingly shame you into finishing things.

5. Reward Yourself (But Make It Worth It) - Your brain thrives on dopamine, so why not weaponise it? Instead of waiting until you’ve finished a massive project, break it down into smaller milestones and reward yourself along the way. Examples of effective rewards:

   • A guilt-free Netflix episode after finishing a report section

   • A cheeky biscuit (or five) after responding to all your emails

   • A luxurious nap after submitting your work (for creativity purposes, obviously)

   By training your brain to associate work with little hits of joy, you’ll actually want to complete tasks. Revolutionary, I know.

6. Make Procrastination Work For You - Believe it or not, procrastination isn’t always bad. Sometimes, it’s your brain’s way of telling you it needs time to process ideas in the background. Some of the most brilliant ideas emerge when we’re “avoiding” work—think of all the creative epiphanies that happen in the shower or while staring into the fridge for no reason.

   So, don’t beat yourself up. Instead, schedule purposeful procrastination into your day. Take breaks. Let your mind wander. Then, when inspiration strikes, pounce on it like a productivity ninja.

Did you know that your mindset can be the difference between dreaming about your future and actually getting it done? Read our article and give yourself a boost!

Wise Words for Procrastinators

Sometimes, a good quote is all the motivation you need. Here are some gems to inspire action:

• "You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." – Zig Ziglar

• "The secret of getting ahead is getting started." – Mark Twain

• "Done is better than perfect." – Sheryl Sandberg

Remember, the hardest part is often just starting. Once you do, momentum takes over, and finishing becomes much easier.

Our 7 Fantastic Strategies to Overcome Procrastination

Ready to reclaim your time and sanity? Here are practical tips to help you shift from procrastinator to go-getter:

• Break It Down: Large tasks can feel overwhelming, so break them into smaller, manageable chunks. Instead of “Write a novel,” try “Write 500 words today.” Small wins add up!

• The Two-Minute Rule: If a task takes less than two minutes to complete, do it immediately. It’s amazing how much you can accomplish with this simple rule.

• Set SMART Goals: Make your goals Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, “Finish the first draft of my report by Friday at 3 PM.”

• Use the Pomodoro Technique: Work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. Repeat this cycle four times and reward yourself with a longer break. It’s productivity with built-in snack breaks!

• Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself when you slip up. Instead of beating yourself up, acknowledge the setback and refocus. Procrastinators unite… tomorrow? No, today!

• Eliminate Distractions: Identify your biggest time-wasters (hello, social media) and minimise them. Try tools like website blockers or put your phone in another room.

• Reward Yourself: Incentives can be powerful motivators. Promise yourself a treat after completing a task—whether it’s chocolate, a TV episode, or a guilt-free nap.A Little Note on Balance

While it’s important to overcome procrastination, don’t forget to balance productivity with self-care. Rest, relaxation, and fun are essential ingredients for a happy, healthy life. If you’re constantly on the go without taking a breather, burnout can sneak up on you.

As they say, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy—and Jill a dull girl. So go ahead and tackle your to-do list, but remember to schedule time for yourself, too.

Final Thoughts: Progress Over Perfection

At the end of the day, productivity isn’t about eliminating procrastination—it’s about managing it. You don’t need to become a time-management guru overnight. Just focus on getting a little bit better at balancing work and creative detours.

So go forth, fellow procrastinator! Embrace your quirks, tweak your workflow, and remember: scrolling memes is an essential part of the creative process. Probably.

Procrastination. That nagging habit of putting things off until “later,” a mythical time when we’re suddenly more motivated, organized, and caffeinated. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Procrastination is a universal struggle, and while it might provide short-term relief, it often leads to long-term stress and frustration. Let’s explore why we procrastinate and, more importantly, how to break free from its grip and become a go-getter who gets things done without losing your sanity.

Learn More with Guild Transformation

Struggling with procrastination? We offer our transformational coaching membership to help you build habits that stick, master time management, and achieve your goals. Join us and start your journey from procrastinator to go-getter today. Because why wait until tomorrow to change your life?

Procrastination might be a universal experience, but it doesn’t have to define you. With the right strategies and mindset, you can conquer delays, reduce stress, and create a life filled with action and accomplishment. So, what are you waiting for? Get started now—not later!