⚡️ 3 Ways to Address Procrastination

In partnership with

Hey there! Welcome back to The Flow by Flocus. And to the 6,433 new subscribers this week, hello and welcome 👋 If you’re new, you can catch up on our previous editions right here.

This week: We’re going to help you tackle your procrastination head-on. We’ll run through what counts as procrastination (and what doesn’t), and of course, 3 easy tips you can try this week to beat it. All in less than 5 minutes. Let’s get into it!

☁️ What Counts as Procrastinating?

Procrastinating means postponing a task that you’re unwilling to complete.

“Unwilling” doesn’t mean you’re lazy, unambitious, or bad at managing your time, though.

If you’re procrastinating, there’s a reason for it.

Figuring out why you’re procrastinating is the first step toward getting back on track.

Unfortunately, that’s notoriously hard to do.

But before we explore some tips on making it easier, let’s clarify a few things that don’t count as procrastinating:

• Putting off a task temporarily because you need something else to complete it

• Rescheduling a task because you’re sick

• Postponing a task due to a family emergency

Knowing these exceptions can help you release any guilt about future disruptions to your schedule.

Now that you know what counts as procrastinating, let’s explore one of the biggest hurdles for resolving it.

Real quick: Looking for a new way to procrastinate less and get more time back in your day? Check out monday.com’s web app!

Whether you’re a professional or student, click below to use their free forever plan to track your work with projects and unlimited docs.

Your next project’s BFF. Project management doesn't have to be a headache. monday.com is the friend your projects need. From concept to completion, experience the magic of managing, automating, and streamlining with monday.com.

Try it free

Thanks for checking out monday.com — which supports our small team and keeps The Flow free for everyone!

Now, let’s dig into how to address your procrastination head-on:

🐣 3 Starter Steps for Addressing Procrastination

Let’s explore 3 easy steps you can take to discover what your procrastination is trying to tell you.

🤨 1. Notice when you’re procrastinating

The first step is to catch yourself in the act.

Don’t worry about changing your behavior at this stage — simply observe it, without judgments or assumptions.

Actively noticing your temptation to procrastinate will take some practice.

If it helps, try “interrupting” yourself with a neutral mantra, like:

• I just noticed I’m procrastinating on this

• I feel tempted to put this off until later

🎊 2. Celebrate your small win

Simply noticing that you’re procrastinating is an important step — so pat yourself on the back each time you’re able to do it!

To reinforce this new thought pattern and increase your chances of repeating it in the future, try an affirmation:

“I’m proud of myself for noticing that I’m procrastinating. Well done, me!”

🔬 3. Zoom in

Okay, so you’ve noticed you’re procrastinating — now what?

Ask yourself:

• What would I rather be doing instead of working on my task?

• Why do I prefer this activity?

• Does this activity align with my values?

• Does this activity drain or replenish my energy?

• What need is this activity serving? (Examples: Preventing boredom, distracting you from a stressful situation)

• What are some other, healthier ways I can meet that need?

Your answers will uncover the real reason why you’re procrastinating (and hopefully a few paths for addressing it).

From there, you can take small, gentle steps toward changing the behavior and returning to your task.

🪅 Flocus Picks

A curated list of things worth sharing.

• You are NOT a Procrastinator (TikTok) — When you call yourself a procrastinator, it becomes part of your identity. Mel Robbins explains why that’s a bad thing!

• 3 Ways to Become More Self-Aware (YouTube) — Need more help honing your self-awareness? Check out this 2-minute video from author and psychologist, Tasha Eurich.

• 6 Reasons Procrastination Can Be Good for You (Post) — In certain cases, procrastination can benefit your productivity! Check out this Psych Today article to find out how.

🖥️ Flocus: All-in-One Dashboard

Procrastinate productively with Flocus this week — packed with pretty themes, a customizable Pomodoro timer, ambient sounds, and so much more to help you get more done.

Open in Browser

Procrastination is a natural response to difficult tasks — and any tricky emotions associated with them.

Practicing self-awareness will reveal the root cause of your procrastination and what you need to do before you can get back on course.

Until next Sunday,

Flocus Team