‘This should be done by now.’

‘Alex, I’ve got this super important thing I know I need to do, and I’m not doing it.’

Right, I say, nodding.

‘Yes, right. This should be done by now. It bothers me.’

I stroke my chin deviously.

So what is it you need help with exactly? I say.

‘I need you to help me procrastinate less. It’s holding me back in life, and keeping me from producing more of what I know I’m capable of.’

Okay good. So what exactly does your thinking have to do with all this?

He blinks large, circular eyes.

‘What do you mean? Isn’t there a special technique I can use?’

Yes, that’s my point. People who procrastinate less separate their thoughts from actions. Because action has nothing to do with what you think.

Having thoughts like:

‘This should be done by now,’ or…

‘I’m not doing enough’ or…

‘If I do this, I may look stupid.’

Do. Not. Help. You.

So, if there was any ‘technique’ you could use, it would be to do more.

AND, to find a way to enjoy the doing.

The more we do something, the more it gets done.

The more we think about how ‘unfavourable’ our situation is right now, without taking action, the less we do. The more we procrastinate.

So procrastination is a thought-getting-in-the-way-of-action problem.

This doesn’t mean you need to reach around the back of your skull to find the button that says, ‘Turn off thoughts here.’

It simply means you need to push yourself out of inertia, and do the thing worth doing.

You don’t need to overthink procrastination.

I mean, whatever lunatic even came up with that word?

Try this: the 15-Second Rule.

Spend 15 seconds with the thing you’ve been procrastinating on.

Now you’re there, and you’re honouring action, and putting thinking to the side for a change.

Actions (even teensy weensy ones) > Thinking.

The right thoughts will appear when you act first.

Try this and watch your procrastination book a one-way ticket to Swaziland.

If you’d like more direct help from me to maximise your focus in the coming months, I may be able to help.

After we establish that we’re a good fit, I have a free call with you to review your unique situation, identify your strengths and talents, establish your main 1–2 objectives, and design an action plan to make it happen.

Reply to this email (say: ‘interested’) if that sounds helpful.

Alex