I’ve written 90,000 words in 2023 whilst holding down a full-time job.

This suggests I no longer struggle with procrastination. I have seasons when I reign victorious. Churning out articles like a writing machine.

But not always.

Some days it’s tough to get going. But over the years I’ve developed a suite of tools that kickstart my engine whenever I need it.

Procrastination will always be a regular visitor. So if you want to win online you need a few tricks up your sleeve for when she turns up.

This is what works for me (4 is my go-to tactic):

1. Get crystal clear on what you need to do

We procrastinate when we lack clarity.

When you think I’ll do some writing or work on project X. Your brain hesitates. It doesn’t know exactly what to do. Decision-making depletes your energy. And your brain will do anything to conserve energy. It’s a primal instinct.

Being clear removes this obstacle.

• Make your to-do list specific

Not project X but email Y to ask for a report

Not write an article but draft an outline

To get a flying start in the morning. Make your tasks specific the night before.

• Craft processes to make tasks clearer

Not edit the article but run through my editing checklist

Not think of some ideas but identify 15 problems my reader faces

2. Start so small you can’t fail to start

When are you most likely to fail with a task?

Let’s say I aim to exercise 30 minutes every day. There are 4 possible failure points:

1. Before I start — I don’t go to the gym

2. Soon after starting — I stop after the 1st 5 minutes

3. In the middle — after 15 minutes

4. Stopping early — with 5 minutes to go

But which is the most likely failure point?

90% of failures happen at point 1 - before I start.

The main challenge with procrastination is getting started. So leverage all your efforts to avoid this failure point. Find a way to start and you’ll be successful.

The easiest way to do this is to make it super small.

• 1 rep

• 1 minute

• 1 sentence

You’ve got 1000 words to write today — the chance of failure is high.

You’ve got 5 words to write today — the odds of success rise to 99%.

But guess what happens when you’ve written 5 words? You write the other 995 because you’ve got momentum.

Start small and your progress will be big.

3. Change your expectations

Your expectations of a successful day causes problems

We expect to finish our tasks. Clear out emails. Complete a project. Finish a report. You won’t even be aware you expect this. But test yourself now. Imagine starting your to-do list. Notice what expectation rises. You expect to finish it. That’s why it feels like failure if you don’t

And this causes resistance because finishing involves a lot of work.

But you can dissolve this resistance with a sneaky trick. Instead of thinking you have to finish your tasks say you have to start them.

• I need to start phoning people

• I have to start answering emails

• I have to start organising that event

• I need to start writing that document

Feels different doesn’t it?

It feels easy. Success is almost guaranteed. And when that is the case. We are drawn towards the task. Easy success gives us a dopamine hit.

And we know once you’ve started — you’ll keep going.

4. Write something terrible

Procrastination is perfectionism in disguise

You put stuff off because you fear it won’t be good enough. Bizarrely we think don’t do the tasks and our fears of being imperfect won’t be realised. But a quick ninja move can help here.

Aim to write something terrible.

Accept it is going to be an awful piece of work. That is all you are asking of yourself. Decide this & you’ll relax. The tension will ease away. Confidence will rise.

This works because you can easily achieve this goal. You can write something awful (but don’t worry you won’t).

It’s an effective trick that releases the pressure and kickstarts your writing.

5. Realise your privilege

Your language affects your energy.

We say such oppressive things to ourselves:

• I have to manage this project

• I have to finish this report

• I have to write this article

You have to? No wonder you struggle to get started. You think you are living under some sort of tyranny. And it drains your energy.

But didn’t you get into this because of the wonderful possibilities?

I create online and that is incredible. I do it when I want. Where I want. Total freedom. I’m helping people. Changing lives. It even earns money. In historical terms, most people never had this opportunity.

When I’m struggling with motivation I give myself a wake-up call. It’s an honour and privilege.

• I get to publish on Medium and it doesn’t cost me anything

• I get to generate ideas & write on any topic I want

• I get to write and no barriers are stopping me

Remember you don’t have to — you get to.

Tell yourself that often.

cheers,

Derek

What I’ve been reading…Lifespan by David Sinclair

because I’m concerned I’m getting older!