How to Beat Procrastination and Finally Get Things Done

We tend to think of procrastination as a bad habit — and it is — but it’s also a way to cope. When we feel overwhelmed, unsure, or just mentally drained, avoiding a task can feel like the only option. The problem? That relief is temporary, and the stress always circles back.

If you’re tired of riding that cycle, here are four practical ways to break it when you’re not feeling 100% motivated.

1. Lower the Barrier to Starting

Most of us don’t procrastinate because we’re lazy — we procrastinate because starting feels like a mountain. So instead of saying “I need to finish this,” reframe it to “I’m just going to work on this for ten minutes.” Ten minutes is a small commitment compared to finishing a whole task. Starting is often the hardest part, but it’s easier to keep going once you’re in motion.

2. Make the Task Clearer

Vague goals result in vague actions. If your task is “Work on project,” it’s harder to measure how much you’re getting done. Break the task into specific actions: “Write intro paragraph” or “Choose paint color for bedroom wall.” This removes decision fatigue and gives you a clear starting point.

3. Change Your Environment

You can’t expect deep focus in a space that’s set up for distraction. If your phone’s constantly buzzing with notifications or you’re working where you relax, your brain won’t switch gears easily. Create a work-friendly zone, even if it’s just clearing off a part of your table or playing mood music to shut out unwelcome noise.

4. Find Rewards That Reinforce

It’s tempting to binge YouTube after a productive hour, but make sure your rewards don’t undo your progress. (Work for one hour, and watch fun videos for one hour.) Think small and restorative — a short walk, a coffee, a chat with a friend. Your brain should associate completing a task with feeling good, not being distracted.

Key Takeaway

Procrastination isn’t about fixing yourself — it’s about adjusting your systems. With a few intentional changes, you can build momentum from small accomplishments instead of waiting for the best moment to get an entire project done.

A Story: How Do You Unwind? 

Daily writing prompt
How do you unwind after a demanding day?
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After a long day, each family member returns home to relax. Everyone has their own routine after work or school, and the most important thing is finding some sort of release from the day’s stress. But even though unwinding after the day brings the family together, they also need time alone.

Father

The key turns in the lock, and Dad steps inside, glad to be home after a long day at work. The smell of dinner pulls him to the kitchen, and he asks how his wife and kids are doing. He eats quickly while adding to the family conversation about weekend plans and asking about school and what’s happening that weekend.

After dinner, he drops onto the couch, happy to catch up on recent news in the newspaper and TV news channels. The kids pile into the room much later, and they watch a family drama together. He wonders where his wife is – she wouldn’t want to talk with him anyway – she doesn’t like to hear about his work stress. If he’s not too tired, he plays games with the kids before bedtime.

Mother

Mother watches while her husband and children eat dinner and talk about events at school and in their city. Then she puts away the leftovers and washes the dishes while she thinks about all the other household tasks that she needs to complete the next day. She checks if the children are doing their homework. Her husband is relaxing in front of the TV and not speaking to her. They usually don’t talk because she wants to remind him of all the millions of tasks that they need to do.

Then she packs the children’s lunches for the next day. This weekend, she will be working part time so she makes a checklist of what she needs to prepare – what outfit to wear, what lunch to bring, what the kids need to do while she’s at work. When her day is done, she looks forward to doing a little reading before bedtime.

Children

The school day was long so the children can’t wait to leave the classroom and go home. They first go to the kitchen to grab snacks and watch after-school cartoons. Their mom is busy preparing dinner. TV time is one of the best times of the day.

If they are lucky, Mom cooks something they like for dinner and mealtime will be quick. Otherwise, dinner will be slow if they don’t like the food. After dinner, it’s the unpleasant task of completing homework. Sometimes homework is fun, and sometimes it isn’t. Then they chat with their friends or find their Dad and watch more TV. 

All too soon, it’s time for bedtime and lights out. When their parents think they have gone to sleep, one kid turns on a flashlight and starts to read a book under the sheets.

What If You Could See Your Future In 10 Years?

Daily writing prompt
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
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Imagine being able to see exactly where you’ll be in ten years. You see vivid snapshots of your future life: your career, your relationships, your finances, even the food you’re going to be eating. That ability seems like one of the best things that could happen to you. You’ll know what’s coming and you can prepare for it.

This foresight could be incredible. 

If you’re destined for success in your career, you can reverse-engineer every step. You’ll know which skills to learn, which certifications to complete, and which companies to apply to. You’ll even know who to connect with—and who to stay away from. No wasting time climbing the wrong corporate ladder or chasing dead-end ideas. Your financial literacy would be your strong suit–you’ll know what to invest in, how long to invest in something, and when to take advantage of the best prices for homes, appliances, or vacation deals.

Your personal life could be a dream too. If you know how your relationships end, you can skip heartbreaks and toxic friendships. You’d avoid the wrong life partner and stay away from messy family drama. No messy breakups, no horrible family memories. You’d choose your friendships more carefully, hold onto the ones who matter, and spend your time where it truly counts.

But as pretty as that future may seem, there is also a major downside: you’d also miss out on something essential—the life lessons.  

Maybe the heartbreak you skip would’ve made you better at communication in relationships. Maybe the job you don’t apply for would’ve given you a painful but valuable career lesson. Trial and error isn’t always pleasant, but the good and bad memories are equally necessary for growth. Avoiding pain is safe, but without the ugly lessons, we won’t appreciate the beautiful moments as much.

So where do I see myself in ten years? I wish I could see the future so I would know what to expect. What technology should I buy? Should I go on that trip next year? Will I have published my book?

It would be great to have all the answers today so I can better prepare for that future. Learn faster, love smarter, and coast through a succession of happy moments. But the journey there, through the path of the unknown, could be just as worthwhile an adventure!

4 Reasons Remote Work Is Challenging

Remote work, also called work from home (WFH), has been around since office workers had the technology to do their tasks from anywhere with an internet connection. It’s become more common now to have in-office, hybrid (a mix of in-office and remote work), and remote options for some companies. 

The perks of remote work are numerous, but the lifestyle isn’t for everyone. The main difference is that WFH easily blurs the lines between work and home life. It’s easy to check work email after you finish a late dinner or throw a load of clothes in the laundry before a meeting starts.

Remote work also comes with its unique challenges. If you haven’t tried working from home yet, consider these four challenges before you start. If you work from home, what do you think about these challenges with the lifestyle?

Lack of in-person interaction

Remote work is perfect for those who love to work without interruption. You can avoid water cooler conversations with coworkers (although you might have them with those you live with). You can work in peace and get what you need done on time. The time you save from your commute is spent on other tasks, instead of sitting in transportation.

For those who love socializing, you will miss having lunch with a co-worker. You’ll miss the conversations you have whenever you collaborate with a team. You’ll have virtual team meetings, but you must stick to the topic and finish on time before people leave for other meetings.  

People who are just starting in their careers will find the lack of in-person interaction difficult. You cannot casually walk up to someone to ask for help. You cannot sit with coworkers who have similar jobs during lunch and pick up career tips. To get the support you need, you’ll either send messages to a coworker or schedule a meeting.

No division between home and work

Working from home is quite literally working from your home. It may be difficult to draw a distinct line between your home life and work life. A home office with a door can create a physical separation between your two lives, but if your desk is in your living space, such as your kitchen, that distinction is harder to make.

You may be expected to check your work emails first thing in the morning, as well as last thing in the evening. Remote companies with staff that live across the country function best when people are more flexible about when they work and when they check messages. You may need to be more adamant about your office hours and when you check messages if you want set hours away from work.

Work may also feel more intrusive because your coworkers have a window into your personal life when you have a virtual meeting. They can see one wall of your home office, and they can hear family in the background. (Although one time a coworker reached into the wall of the virtual background and produced a takeout order delivery.)

Living where you work has its perks. You don’t have to spend time packing your lunch the night before. No need to figure out what food is good to transport in your lunch bag and convenient to eat in the office. 

During coffee and lunch breaks, you can be more productive: you can throw a load of dishes in the dishwasher, take out the trash, or pay a phone bill. Best of all, if you have a flexible schedule and if you’re drowsy, it’s easy to take a comfortable nap.

Lack of support OR too much micromanagement

When you don’t see your boss on a daily basis, it can be difficult to get the kind of support that you need. Your boss may not be aware that you’re struggling with something at work, or affected by something in your personal life. Unless you speak up, they can’t tell that you’re struggling. If you work in an office, your boss and coworkers see you regularly and are better able to notice if you lack your usual energy. Similarly, if you work in an office, you have a better sense of whether your coworkers are experiencing challenges. For example, if you’re both dealing with unsupportive management, you can support each other. But if you work remotely, you are like an island to yourself. You may not know if a coworker is facing a similar issue as you are.

Some companies don’t trust their remote workers to do their jobs and set up systems to monitor them. For example, using a camera to check if their worker is at their desk, or tracking mouse clicks to monitor productivity. The issue, of course, is if your job requires you to be creative, do some research, or brainstorm before you start writing. You could be productively thinking away, but your mouse isn’t moving and you’re just staring into space. It may look like you’re not working even though you are.

Constant need to learn tech skills

As a remote worker, you’ll encounter tech issues with internet availability, virtual meeting microphone or camera issues, or security access issues with your computer. Some remote companies require you to learn how to use AI programs or collaboration tools. 

Without someone from the company’s IT department to save you, you’ll need to resort to your own resourcefulness to fix tech issues or learn new tech by watching videos. An IT person won’t show up to provide advice over your shoulder. 

Key Takeaways

Does working from home appeal to you? Those who prefer it love the flexible work hours, the short commute, and the relaxed dress code. Those who dislike it hate the isolation, the lack of support, and the blending of home and work life. However, with today’s technology, remote work will continue to be an option in the workplace.

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5 Everyday Objects That Bring Me Happiness  

Daily writing prompt
What are 5 everyday things that bring you happiness?
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Sometimes, happiness is found in the little things that are part of everyday life. Of course, there are the special people (family and friends) who bring me smiles, but there are also everyday things that brighten my day as well. Here are five that stand out:

1. My Computer

My computer is like my lifeline. It’s where I write my stories, my blogs, and all of my creative ideas. I need it to enhance my brain power: I learn so much from watching videos or doing research on all kinds of topics. Most importantly, as a remote worker, I need my computer to earn an income. I can’t imagine a life without this valuable piece of technology.

2. Water (and Tea!)

Water is the key to my survival. I like it a lot as a drink, and when I add a tea bag to it, it becomes my caffeine to wake me up in the morning. I also enjoy tea with a snack, when I need a break from work, or when I need a quiet moment on the weekend. Water and tea are like vitamins to me.

3. My Bed

My bed is more than just a place to sleep. It’s my retreat—a spot to rest, reflect, and even brainstorm new ideas. (You probably saw that coming since I like writing so much and creative people need creative spaces.) Some of my most imaginative thoughts have come to me just before falling asleep or while I’m lying in bed in the morning. It’s a personal space where my mind can wander freely, before thinking about the distractions of the day.

4. My Phone

My phone keeps me connected to those who are important to me. Whether I’m making plans, sharing a funny picture, or just sending a quick message, it’s how I stay close to friends and family between in-person visits. It’s also how I stay connected to the world through news, music, social media, and random trivia. It’s a connection to everything happening around me.

5. Music

Music influences mood. It helps me stay focused while working or set the tone for a cozy evening at home. When I need a little boost, I turn on something upbeat. When I’m brainstorming or deep into writing, I have a playlist to match that energy. It’s amazing how a song can completely change the atmosphere of the moment.

We all have objects we use every day, but it’s amazing that they can contribute to our happiness. These five things are a part of my daily life—and they make everything a little bit better.

What everyday things bring you joy?