How to Stop Procrastinating
You sit down to work, open your laptop, and suddenly your brain decides now is the perfect time to reorganize your photo library from 2012. Welcome to procrastination. But stopping it doesn’t mean forcing yourself into monk-like discipline—it means tricking your brain with small, doable steps.
Why Big Tasks Feel Impossible
Your brain doesn’t hate work—it hates discomfort. When it sees a big, unclear task (“Write the report”), it panics. Too heavy, too vague. So it pushes you to Instagram, snacks, or literally anything else that feels lighter.
Shrink the Starting Line
Instead of aiming for “Finish the project”, break it into absurdly small starts:
- Open the document.
- Type one messy sentence.
- Set a 3-minute timer.
It feels ridiculous, but that’s the point. Small wins lower resistance and build momentum.
Reward Yourself Like a Dog
Brains love rewards. Give yourself one: finish a small step, then get coffee, stretch, or watch a quick video. It conditions your brain to see work as less painful.
Change the Environment, Change the Outcome
If your desk screams “nap zone,” move. Libraries, cafés, even a different chair tricks your brain into “new space, new rules.”
In Easy Words:
You stop procrastinating not by battling your brain, but by lowering the entry cost. Start so small you can’t say no, and suddenly the hard stuff feels lighter.