Beat Procrastination for Good: 7 Strategies to Get Stuff Done

 

Even the most high-achieving professionals find themselves staring at a to-do list, fully aware of what needs to be done… and still choosing to tidy the desk, check emails, or scroll on LinkedIn.

Sound familiar?

Procrastination often feels harmless in the moment—until the undone tasks start piling up, bringing stress and frustration with them. The good news? You can absolutely break free from the procrastination trap. All it takes is the right mindset, a little self-awareness, and practical action.

 
 
 
 

Here’s how to make that shift:

1. Admit It: You’re Looking for Distractions

We all do it—dressing up avoidance as productivity. Organizing your inbox or rechecking your planner may feel like you're getting things done, but really, you're dodging the real work.

"You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today." – Abraham Lincoln

The moment you recognize you’re choosing distractions, you’ve already started reclaiming your focus.

2. Visualize the Finish Line

Close your eyes and imagine how you’ll feel when the task is complete. That sense of relief, accomplishment, and freedom? Let that feeling pull you into motion.

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." – Eleanor Roosevelt

Celebrate in advance, and use that emotion to push past resistance.

3. Consider the Cost of NOT Doing It

Think about the emotional weight you carry when tasks linger—guilt, stress, frustration. Instead of sitting with those feelings, flip them into fuel for action.

"Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage." – Dale Carnegie

Let the discomfort of delay propel you toward completion.

4. Stop the Excuses

“I work better under pressure.” “I don’t have enough time right now.” Sound familiar? These are comfort phrases masquerading as logic. More often than not, they’re just ways to keep avoiding the hard stuff.

"Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses." – George Washington Carver

Instead, take a breath and make the conscious choice to move forward.

5. Just Start

Don’t overthink it. Set a timer for 5 minutes and just start. You don’t need to finish the task—just begin. Often, starting is the hardest part, but once you’re in motion, it gets easier.

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

And remember to celebrate that first small win—it’s powerful momentum.

6. Set Goals and Make a List

Avoidance thrives in vagueness. List out what you’ve been putting off. Break big tasks into smaller steps. Assign realistic deadlines and plug them into your calendar.

"A goal without a plan is just a wish." – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Small, actionable steps pave the way for big victories.

7. Celebrate Your Progress

Don’t wait until the big goal is achieved. Celebrate every mini-milestone. Finished that tough email? Take a walk. Closed that open loop? Enjoy a guilt-free break.

"Success is a series of small wins." – Jamie Tardy

These micro-rewards retrain your brain to associate action with positive emotion.

Make Procrastination a Thing of the Past

Yes, procrastination is common. But it doesn’t have to define your workflow. You have the power to shift your habits—and rewrite your productivity story.

Need support getting clear and unstoppable?

Book your FREE CLEAR AND UNSTOPPABLE Strategy Session now. Let’s get into what’s keeping you stuck and create a practical, custom strategy to help you move forward with clarity, confidence, and ease.

You already have what it takes. Now it’s time to take control and follow through.

Joe Mitchell, Esquire is a High-Performance Coach and EFT (Tapping) Practitioner, who has logged over 35 years of in-depth study of personal and spiritual development. In his studies, he has done hundreds of self-development courses, spiritual retreats, and health-related workshops. Coach Joe is a certified yoga teacher, meditation teacher, NLP Practitioner, and a graduate of three coaching academies. Two years after he graduated from Harvard Law School, he became a monk for five years. In 2016, after over 20 years as a solo criminal and personal injury attorney, he decided to turn his heart’s passion into a career as a Success Coach, Motivational Speaker and Trainer. For information on Coach Joe’s programs, high-performance videos and to apply for a Free High-Performance Session, book a Strategy Session with Coach Joe today.

 
Joseph Mitchell