We all procrastinate more than we care to admit.

It starts with innocent thoughts like:

“This task will just take an hour.”
“I’ll respond to this email soon.”
“I can start on this project tomorrow.”

Then somehow, hours slip by — and suddenly, you’re asking yourself, “How did I only get this much done today?”

Recently, I had my own reminder that procrastination can still creep in, even when you think you have systems in place. I pride myself on structured time blocks and email processes, but I found myself responding to a simple “thank you” email… two weeks later. Two weeks! That tiny delay reminded me that even the best systems need a tune-up — because life changes, business evolves, and sometimes, our habits don’t keep pace.

If you’ve ever felt this creeping procrastination in your own work, you’re not alone. But here’s the good news: there are practical, doable ways to cut through the stall and actually feel in control of your time again.

Here are some fresh and slightly unconventional strategies to try, beyond the typical “make a list” advice you’ve already heard a hundred times.

Borrow Time from Your Future Self

Here’s a mindset shift: when you delay something, you’re actually borrowing time from your future self. That “quick” email you don’t send today isn’t just waiting in your inbox — it’s sitting on tomorrow’s plate, along with everything else tomorrow is already carrying.

Try asking, “Do I really want to hand this task to Future Me?” More often than not, the answer will nudge you to do it now.

Extra tip: Visualize where Future You will be… maybe prepping for a trip, juggling a client meeting, or already mentally checked out for the weekend. That perspective makes procrastination feel less “harmless” and more like adding unnecessary weight to a day that hasn’t even happened yet.

Use the Two-Minute and Ten-Minute Rules Together

You’ve probably heard of the Two-Minute Rule: if a task takes two minutes, do it immediately. But pairing it with a Ten-Minute Rule adds another layer for those tasks you dread.

Here’s how it works:

If a task will take less than two minutes, send it, schedule it, file it. Don’t think. Just do it.
If it’s a bigger, more intimidating task, commit to just ten minutes of focused effort. At the end of those ten minutes, you have permission to stop.

Nine times out of ten, you’ll keep going because the hardest part was simply starting.

Name Your Distractions Before They Show Up

Distractions aren’t just emails or texts — they’re habits. The “I’ll just check Instagram for a second” moment. The “let me quickly reorganize my desk” urge.

Before starting a task, take 30 seconds to write down the three most likely ways you’ll derail yourself — and what you’ll do instead. For example:

“I’ll want to check my phone. → I’ll turn it over and put it across the room.”
“I’ll get hungry. → I’ll grab a snack before I start.”
“I’ll get caught in my inbox. → I’ll open email only after this block of time.”

This small act of preempting your habits works like a quiet accountability partner.

Create a Parking Lot for Random Thoughts

One sneaky form of procrastination? The “I just thought of something else I should do” spiral.

When your brain starts tossing out unrelated to-dos while you’re working, you pause your focus, you open tabs, you half-start five different things… and you’ve now derailed yourself.

Instead, keep a sticky note, notebook, or digital notepad nearby labeled “Parking Lot.” Anytime a thought pops up — “Call the plumber,” “look up that software,” “respond to Jane’s text”: you write it down and return to what you were doing.

By the time you finish, you’ll have a list you can address later, without having lost the flow.

Redesign Your To-Do List for Momentum, Not Perfection

Traditional to-do lists can be a trap. We make them long, vague, and unrealistic. Then feel guilty when we don’t finish them.

Instead, create two lists:

The Core Three: the three tasks that absolutely, positively move your business or day forward. (Do these first.)
The Momentum List: small, easy wins you can tackle in between or after.

Why this works: the Core Three keeps you grounded in priorities, and the Momentum List gives you satisfying “check-off” moments. This fuels your motivation instead of draining it.

Schedule Start Time, Not Just Due Time

Most of us schedule when a task is due, but rarely when it will start.

By putting actual “start times” on your calendar (not just deadlines), you create structure and urgency. This is especially powerful for open-ended tasks like “write proposal” or “organize files”… a/k/a the kinds of things that sit on lists for weeks.

Build Micro-Rituals to Kickstart Focus

Sometimes procrastination isn’t about the task - it’s about getting into the state to do the task.

Build tiny rituals that signal: “It’s Focus Time.” Light a candle before you write. Play the same playlist when you dive into bookkeeping. Make tea before you review client work.

Your brain starts to connect that ritual with getting in gear, so over time, it’s easier to slip into focus mode.

Procrastination isn’t laziness. It’s often resistance, overwhelm, or just the friction of starting. But the more you equip yourself with tools and not just willpower, the easier it gets to move from “I’ll do it later” to “I’m already doing it.”

What about you — which of these ideas are you willing to try this week?