8 Practical Tips to Overcome Procrastination

As a mom, it often feels like you’re juggling a million tasks all at once, getting kids to school, running errands, managing household chores, and maybe even trying to squeeze in a little self-care.

But despite the whirlwind of activities, you may find yourself struggling with procrastination, putting off important tasks even though you know the consequences of doing so. If you feel like you’re drowning in responsibilities but can’t stop procrastinating, you’re not alone.

Procrastination doesn’t mean you’re lazy, it’s often a result of feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or simply unsure of where to start.

So, how do you break free from this cycle and start getting things done? Here are 8 practical tips to help you stop procrastinating and regain control over your day, without adding more stress to your plate.

To get a better understanding of why you procrastinate, check out these blog posts: Procrastination – What to Do About It?

Invisible Time Wasters that Drain Your Energy + What to Do About Them

Tip #1 – Ask yourself the simple question, “What’s the next step?”

If you have a big task ahead and you’re feeling overwhelmed, ask yourself, “What’s the next step?” Asking yourself this question helps your brain focus on one single step instead of freaking out over everything that must get done.

Example: When I’m cleaning up the kitchen after making dinner, I focus on simply completing the next step…put items in dishwasher, handwash the pan, put the milk in the refrigerator, etc. When it comes to working out in the morning, I focus on sitting up in bed, then putting my feet on the floor, heading into the bathroom, changing into my workout clothes, etc.

Tip #2 – Celebrate the small wins instead of focusing on the small losses.

It’s all too easy to focus on everything you DIDN’T accomplish in a day. This just leads to feeling frustrated and overwhelmed and keeps you in the procrastination cycle. Instead of looking at your losses for the day, train yourself to focus on the small wins.

Example: Instead of feeling frustrated that you didn’t complete the grocery shopping, focus on how you spent quality time cuddling your child instead. If you didn’t get to the laundry, focus on how you made dinner for your family.

Tip #3 –  Create a list and prioritize it by what needs to get done NOW.

Keeping a running list in your head can lead to procrastination because you have a hard time deciding where to start. Grab a piece of paper or notebook and create a list of everything that’s going through your head, and then number that list starting with #1, the highest priority. Now you know where to start.

Example: At the end of every week, I create a work to-do list for the following week. Then I take those to-do’s and plug them into the days of the following week. When I sit down at my desk, I open my planner and see my created daily to-do list. I then number those tasks using #1 as the first thing to be accomplished, and I continue down the list. Not only does this help with productivity, but I no longer procrastinate starting work because I have a plan for the day. My brain doesn’t have to exert energy figuring out how to spend my work time.

Tip #4 – Be kind to yourself if you DO procrastinate.

In the book, Feel Good Productivity, by Ali Abdaal, he shares how kindness and forgiveness towards yourself increases productivity. A study of first year students at a university showed that students who forgave themselves for not studying were much more productive with their school work. Students who self-criticized and viewed themselves as bad students were less likely to study in the future and they were less productive.

Example: When you procrastinate, remind yourself that you’re human and it’s ok. Try tip #2 to recognize your small wins. Tell yourself that you can always make a different choice next time.

Tip #5 –  Use a visual progress tracker.

When you can’t see how much you’ve accomplished, it’s easy to feel like you’re constantly falling behind. A visual tracker can provide motivation by showing tangible progress. This is another reason to-do lists are helpful. As you cross off items, you can see your progress. Habit trackers are also a helpful way to visually see progress.

Example: If you procrastinate with your own bedtime, and find yourself staying up way too late, set a small goal to go to bed on time 3x a week. Use the habit tracker to document the days you achieve this goal. Make sure you celebrate this win! At the end of the month, you’ll look back and see how many days you made it to bed on time!

Tip #6 – Set a timer for 5 minutes.

A reason for procrastination is the brain complaining about how long something will take. When the brain thinks something will take a long time, it won’t want to exert that energy so it will do anything it can to avoid the task. By setting your timer for 5 minutes, you give the brain a manageable chunk of time to work with. You might surprise yourself and complete the task in 5 minutes, or you might get lost in the task and keep on going. Either way, you’ve got out of procrastination mode and into action.

Example: You have a birthday party to plan for your child. Set your timer for 5 minutes, and write a quick to-do list, and then see what you can accomplish before the timer goes off. The trick to this is to remind yourself that after 5 minutes, you’re allowed to move onto something else if you truly want to. This trick works well if you procrastinate exercising. Tell yourself that you only have to exercise for 5 minutes and once the timer goes off, you can decide if you’ll continue.

Tip #7 – Break down the steps into smaller steps.

If you find yourself really struggling to start a project, chances are, the first step feels too overwhelming. This means that you need to break down the first step into smaller steps. Keep breaking down the steps until the first step feels manageable.

Example: Publishing blog posts can feel overwhelming. There’s a lot of steps that need to happen in order to publish a good blog post. I’ve created a spreadsheet that lists all the steps that go into publishing a blog post. Since the first step is to do some research, my brain views it as an easy task so it’s easy to get started.

Tip #8 – Prepare for tasks ahead of time.

The more preparation you can do ahead of time, the easier it will be to start a difficult task. It’s often easier to prepare for a task than to actually complete the task. Once you have the preparation in place, it’s easier for your brain to get on board and work on completing the task.

Example: Decorating for Christmas can feel like an overwhelming task. However, I simply start by taking a few days and bringing up the plastic tubs (that contain the decorations) from the basement. I then place the plastic tubs in the appropriate room. Just having the bins out and accessible motivates me to start decorating.

Final Thoughts

Procrastination doesn’t have to be a constant struggle. By using the 8 tips shared in this post, you’ll find it easier to stay focused and motivated. Remember, you’re doing your best, and that’s all anyone can ask for. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t check off everything on your list—sometimes, progress is about simply moving forward, one small step at a time.

And hey, even supermoms need a break every now and then. So take it easy, trust the process, and know that you’ve got this. What tip are you going to test out? Let me know in the comment below!

**Before you leave, grab The “Type A” Moms Guide to Feel Organized + In Control of Your Time, for FREE.  You’ll find it here.**

Related Posts:

• Procrastination – What to Do About It?
• Invisible Time Wasters that Drain Your Energy + What to Do About Them
• Save Time + Mental Energy with These Lists
• Simple Productivity Tips To Get More Done As A Mom
• 20 Simple Productivity Tips To Get More Done as a Stay-at-Home Mom

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