Robert Greenshields asked:

Most people think that procrastination is just an annoying or funny habit. They might joke that they have a mile-long to-do list or a stack of books that they never get around to reading. Those examples would be a very mild form of procrastination – but it can get much more serious than that.

Procrastination can destroy your life if you let it. It can cause financial problems, relationship problems, health crises, and more.

The causes for procrastination are numerous, but here are three of the most common ones:

1. Believing a task will ‘take too long’, so you keep putting it off until you have more time.

2. Believing a task will be too difficult, so you keep putting it off until you feel ready to handle it.

3. Waiting for a ‘better time’ to tackle a task, such as waiting until you’re not so stressed, or your life circumstances have quieted down, or waiting until you have less demands on your time.

Have you ever procrastinated because of these reasons? Most people have. But the problem arises when:

1. You never have more time.

2. You never feel ready to handle it.

3. A better time never arrives.

What then? The task never gets accomplished, and conditions continue to get worse as time goes on.

There is one simple way to deal with all three of these procrastination habits: do a little each day!

One major theme runs through all three of those causes above, and that is that you don’t believe you have what it takes (time, ability or resources) to complete the whole job. And maybe you really don’t. But can you do SOME of it? Can you work on it for a few minutes at a time?

In most cases, the answer will be yes.

The greatest way I’ve ever found to overcome procrastination is to push myself to get moving on something – even for a few minutes. I’ll set an egg timer for 15 minutes or so, and promise myself that I can stop after that if I want to.

Once the 15 minutes are up, however, I no longer feel the need to procrastinate. I’m making progress and feeling good about it.

Try it yourself and see the difference!

And remember, procrastination cannot hold you back if you make it your mission to take action – even if only for a few minutes each day!

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Kelly Sims asked:


We all do it; we push the things we enjoy least to the bottom of our to-do list. Day after day that list builds and builds. No matter how much you love your business, there are always the mundane duties that you just can’t stand to do. Putting off these jobs allows them to multiply until the tasks seem insurmountable, creating stress and anxiety. If you are one of the many entrepreneurs who find themselves overwhelmed by dreaded duties, the following tips may help you defeat the urge to procrastinate and finally get those tedious tasks done:

1. Schedule these tasks early in your day. Decide how much time needs to be spent on each task and mark it in your calendar or agenda. If they need to be performed weekly, work on them first thing Monday morning. If they are daily jobs, work on them first thing each day. Deciding to work on the functions you enjoy least as early as possible will actually make your job more enjoyable. The rest of the day or week will then be dedicated to carrying out the duties you really enjoy. You will find yourself looking forward to your days instead of feeling a sense of dread over the mounting piles of monotonous work.

2. Reward yourself. When you have completed these wearisome deeds, reward yourself by taking a break, getting a coffee or having a snack. Knowing that there is a treat coming when you finish may not make you enjoy these duties any more, but it will likely give you the extra motivation to get the job done.

3. If the job seems huge, break it up. Divide the tasks into sections and schedule 2 or 3 times throughout your day to work on them. After completing each section, give yourself a little reward and move on to more enjoyable work. Be sure to set some kind of alarm to remind you when it’s time to get back to them, or you may get carried away with doing the jobs you love.

4. Don’t allow yourself to get distracted. While performing these despised duties, it’s very easy to become distracted by anything and everything. In fact, you may find yourself looking for distractions to avoid this work. The more focused you are, the faster you will complete these tasks and be finished with them. During this time, don’t check your email, chit chat with employees or colleagues, and don’t answer any personal phone calls.

5. Delegate. If you have employees, delegate some of these responsibilities to them; that’s what they are there for. If you don’t have employees, or your employees are as overwhelmed as you are, consider outsourcing. As a result of today’s advanced technologies, there are very few jobs that can’t be outsourced. Decide which task(s) you enjoy least and contract them to someone. There are Virtual Assistants to handle administrative duties, Accountants and Bookkeepers to manage financial functions, and there are even companies and individuals to whom you can outsource sales duties.

Procrastination leads to stress and anxiety, but these can be easily avoided. Don’t allow the urge to procrastinate overcome your desire to run your business efficiently. Following some or all of these simple steps may help you conquer your inclination to delay performing dreaded duties, allow you to more thoroughly enjoy your work day, and let you run your business mote effectively.



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Lorraine Cohen asked:


One of the most common issues that comes up for business owners is procrastination -wasting time, putting obstacles in the way of taking action towards goals, making excuses for delays, creating confusion/ ‘busyness’ etc. Procrastination is a self-defeating behavior.

As human beings, we are adept at creating convincing language that allows us to rationalize taking specific action or not taking action. We become masterful in presenting a logical sounding viewpoint that successfully defends our position to procrastinate. In this way, we give ourselves permission to step into avoidance, despite the results we say we want!

Having a game plan with action steps can foster procrastination. Over time we develop an automatic patterned response to change, convinced that what we are doing is moving us forward. In reality, we’re just playing the same old game, creating the illusion of moving forward. Bottom line – get real by getting honest with yourself.

As a small business owner do you:

1. Keep saying you’re going to do something and don’t follow through? Saying one thing and doing something else? The intended action continues to exist in the future as a goal, always out of reach without being fully actualized. The dangling carrot.

2. Prioritize other things first before you can get to what you say you really want? Somehow the starting time keeps getting pushed back. Are you a yesbutter? Yes, I want this but.. Yes I’m excited to get going on this, but… yes but…, yes but

3. Overextend (over commit) so much of your time you never quite get to some things because you’re too busy? Some people think scheduling is just a time management problem. In actuality, it’s about making better decisions in how you allocate your time. What do you always manage to fit in despite all the busyness?

I could go on citing examples.

Working with more than 1500 people over the last 17 years, I have often found fear at the root of procrastination. Fear of failure/success, change, unknown, can be power-full drivers to avoid taking action. The first hurdle to address may be in recognizing patterns of procrastination. People can become so proficient in rationalizing avoidance they lack the clarity to see the creative forms of this behavior. Furthermore; self-defeating behavior is caused by self-defeating attitudes. Identifying internal attitudes and assumptions is a key element in fully dismantling self-defeating behavior.

Common objections to justify procrastination:

1. I can’t! I’m too fearful! I’m not strong enough! Is that really true? (Or is this your drama?) Can’t??? Try won’t – life is about making choices.

2. I can’t afford to! How often do you use money as an excuse to deny having something you need? Is there a cost to you to NOT take action? If there is a cost, at what point is the cost too high a price to pay? Consider short/long term value for a questionable investment.

3. I don’t have time! How much time is needed to take one step? What changes can you make to open up some time?

4. Now is not a good time! It’s not the right time! When is? What would the right time look like?

5. I’m not ready! What needs to change for you to become ready? What does being ready look like?

6. It’s too hard/too big! What smaller steps or ways of looking at it will make it more manageable/attainable? What support/help is available?

Procrastination means you never have to commit to an action make a mistake, fail/succeed, take a stand on reaching a goal (take responsibility to make things happen) change your life or yourself. You may make some progress, but continue to hold yourself back. Progress occurs at a controlled, manageable pace, enough to keep you interested and wanting more – but always short of reaching your heart’s full desire.

Are you a procrastinator? How is procrastination impacting your business success?

Consider the following questions:

• What are the mechanisms/reasons/excuses you use to block your success? – i.e. over-promising and under-delivering, time management, poor marketing, negative self-talk?

• What do you tell yourself (and others) to make your procrastinating behavior, okay?

• Have you really made the decision to be successful?

• What beliefs do you have about success? Are they true?

• How will your life change if you change this behavior?

• Who will you become if you change this behavior?

In the book, Get Out Of Your Own Way, the authors, Mark Goulston, MD., and Philip Goldberg say “ There are, of course, many reasons why people procrastinate: self-doubt, boredom, fear of failure, the feeling of being unready or unprepared and so on. But these feelings by themselves don’t necessarily lead to procrastination. Often, what tips the scales is going through them alone, with no one to help you, bolster you, or cheer you on.”

How to stop procrastinating?

1. The first step is to make a decision to have the success you want. Say “yes!”

2. Then create the vision you want in detail – paint a picture that excites you to move towards achieving that result. You must have a good marketing/business plan!!!! This is your road map to success.

3. Begin identifying your action steps and break them down into small steps with timelines.

4. Design a defensive strategy to deal with your procrastination. Define concrete actions. ie. You have warm business leads but don’t make the calls. One suggestion – make it a game so that making calls might be fun. Be creative.

5. If you’re a solo-entrepreneur being a part of a network is critical so you don’t become isolated.

6. Join a mastermind group or form one.

7. Need more help to stay motivated and on track? HIRE A COACH!

One thing I’ve come to know is that people put time and energy into what they love – what’s most important to them. I’ve watched people move mountains, jump over hurdles for something they love – total buy-in. I know when I’m working with a procrastinator or with someone who really wants to move by what they are willing to do and unwilling to accept to get what they want. People who are ready to take action are too excited to wait and are willing to commit to whatever action is needed to reach their goals. If you keep pushing your dreams away by continuing your love affair with procrastination…..it’s your life, it’s your choice.

Copyright © 2005 Lorraine Cohen. All Rights Reserved

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Lorraine Cohen, Business Consultant and Life Strategist brings more than 25 years experience in personal coaching, business development, psychological counseling, and sales to over 2000 business owners, entrepreneurs, and executives from a wide range of industries. Focusing on the whole person, Lorraine coaches people from the inside out; to implement innovative strategies that integrate their heart, integrity, and spirituality. An expert in breaking through fear and roadblocks to success, she empowers people to take linear leaps that reshape their world. To learn more about Lorraine Cohen’s services, products, and programs, visit: www.powerfull-living.biz



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