Stop Delaying, Start Doing: Overcoming the Procrastination Trap

We constantly postpone dozens, even hundreds of things every day. It feels like everyone is suffering from an endless “chronic procrastination illness.” I hear so many people say, “If only I didn’t have this procrastination problem, I could achieve so much,” and it amazes me how many people struggle with it.

Chronic procrastination can be defined as constantly finding excuses and delaying tasks that need to be done. These individuals spend time on other things instead of doing what is necessary, always searching for an escape. In addition to being a mentally exhausting process, it also negatively affects people’s professional and personal lives.

Like many of you, I am familiar with this situation. Especially during my school years, I had become an expert in procrastination. I would leave my exams and assignments until the last minute, addicted to the rush of adrenaline and stress. Somehow, things would work out at the last moment, but the stress took its toll, leading to chronic stomach pain. Unfortunately, I couldn’t overcome this during my school years.

So, how did I manage to tackle it?

First of all, it’s clear that this isn’t a problem with an easy fix. If it were, everyone would overcome it. Moreover, everyone’s level of procrastination differs. Don’t compare yourself to others, but be mindful of your own habits. Since I’m not an expert, I’ll share examples based on my personal experiences.

I can confidently say that, at this point, I don’t suffer from any level of procrastination. Perhaps I was never at a stage where it could be called an illness, but I vividly remember the days when it was an issue. As with any problem, the key here is awareness! You can begin by recognising that you have a procrastination issue and that you want to change it.

Two things triggered my awareness. The first was the heavy feeling in my chest whenever I avoided a task. It felt like an ox was sitting on my chest, and I couldn’t breathe. The time I spent procrastinating was so unenjoyable and stressful that I couldn’t ignore it.

The second trigger was starting my professional career. No matter how stressful school was, it was a very individual responsibility for me. My success or failure in school primarily affected me, with perhaps some impact on my family. However, work life comes with a different set of responsibilities. You work in a team, and your inability to complete tasks can negatively affect your team and company. I think my sense of responsibility toward others was stronger than my sense of responsibility toward myself, so when I started working, I naturally managed to control my procrastination to a large extent.

Of course, this was only the beginning. Procrastination is a persistent problem; if you chase it out the door, it will find a way back in through the window. Work life disciplined me to a certain degree, but in my personal life and goals, there were still many things I postponed. It was easier to delay things in these areas because, as I said earlier, you don’t feel accountable to anyone. In my opinion, true personal growth occurs when you conquer procrastination in your personal life. This kind of growth leads to learning how to manage yourself.

There are many different methods and perspectives to address this issue. One popular approach is “Eat the Frog first” (there’s a book with the same title, though I haven’t read it, but I’ve heard a lot about it). The idea is to tackle the most difficult task first in your day. According to this perspective, once you get the hardest task out of the way, it becomes easier to find motivation to handle the rest. While I’ve used this method a lot, it may not be the best starting point if you’re new to overcoming procrastination. Beginning your day with the toughest task requires strong willpower. If you can’t get through it, you might struggle to find motivation for even the simplest tasks for the rest of the day.

Another popular approach is to start with tasks that take the least amount of time. The idea here is to build momentum by quickly completing small tasks, which then makes tackling bigger tasks easier. If you’re just starting out and have motivation issues, I’d recommend trying this method. I use it often in my professional life. Whenever I lose motivation, I break my tasks into the smallest possible steps, write them down, and get started. I quickly finish the easiest tasks and then continue through my list.

I blend both of these methods depending on the situation, and they’ve both been quite helpful. However, the mindset that helped me fully overcome procrastination was one I developed myself: “If you don’t start, you won’t finish.” You can make all the plans you want, research methods, and write lists, but everything boils down to one simple truth — if you don’t start, nothing gets done. Whenever I realise I’m procrastinating, I remind myself of my favourite phrase, “If you don’t start, you won’t finish, Meryem.” Believe in the power of words and remind yourself of this often. You’ll be amazed at the results.