Tips for Getting Started

  • by Milo

(Original post by Procrastinators Anonymous member, Milo. Pro reposed it on procrastinators-anonymous.org on 29 July, 2026 - 9:08am with minor edits)

  1. Visualisation. Visualise the task being completed and how good it feels to have it off your list and out of your head.

  2. Break it down into small steps. (But don't over analyze; that's another form of procrastination).

  3. Exercise brute-force willpower. Grit your teeth and say, "I'm just going to do it, dammit!"

  4. Use a timer to commit to doing it for a short period of time. For example, set the timer for 15 minutes and tell yourself, "I only need to spend 15 minutes on it, that's all - 15 minutes won't kill me." You'll find that 15 minutes gets you past the hardest bit (starting), and then you'll have less trouble continuing.

  5. Recognise your own excuses and play devil's advocate. Tell yourself you're full of shit and you'll just make more work for yourself if you believe your own lies.

  6. Eliminate distractions. Turn OFF that TV, take the phone off the hook, unplug your modem... whatever it takes.

  7. Think about the task as an abnormal cell that, if left alone, turns to cancer. The longer it is left without treatment the more it grows and the more dangerous it becomes. Get to your tasks before they turn into cancer. If you prefer less dramatic analogies, try keeping your molehills from growing into mountains so you don't have to climb over the mountain when it grows that big.