How To Combat Procrastination

Have you ever sat down to complete your homework, only to find yourself procrastinating and thinking to yourself, “Why do it now when I can do it later?”

Most of us have been there at some point in time, perhaps several points. We simply don’t want to have to expend energy on a task that we find boring or unrewarding when there are so many other things that we would rather do. After all, why agonise over your algebra homework when you could be hanging out with your friends, scrolling through social media, sleeping, or doing anything else that you enjoy? 

Unfortunately, we can’t just ignore the tasks we need to finish forever. As someone who procrastinates a lot on a daily basis: I get it. It’s hard not to procrastinate, no matter how many times we tell ourselves “procrastination is the thief of time” or “we really need to study for this test or we’ll fail” or all the other reasons why we really should get to work and stop whiling our time away. 

So, how do we combat this? Fear not, for in this article, I will share three life hacks to make getting around to finally starting on that task you’ve been putting off seem less daunting and a lot easier. 

#1: Break The Task Up Into Tiny, Easy Parts

We usually procrastinate because we find a task too difficult or overwhelming. What can we do about this? Well, we can’t exactly magic the entire task into something simpler (though we wish we could), but what we can do is break it down into smaller, more manageable parts and keep breaking it down into smaller and smaller parts until each small part seems nothing more than a very easy little step closer to completion. 

Starting is the difficult part–continuing is hard at first but once you’ve taken a few of the small steps, you’ll want to keep going. When we successfully complete a task, our brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter and hormone that plays a key role in our brain’s reward system, which motivates us to keep doing something that makes us feel happy and pleased. It’s part of why after eating a food you love, you crave more of it. This dopamine release motivates us to keep completing more and more of the broken-up tasks, creating a positive feedback loop. Before you know it, you'll be right on your way to finishing that huge task you've been dreading! 

#2: Take Breaks And Reward Yourself

Trying to power through a task from start to finish does not work when said task is huge and multi-step. Regularly pausing to take breaks and offering yourself small treats after completing a task are essential! Breaks help reduce stress, improve focus and boost creativity. Meanwhile, rewards help act as motivators, build confidence and prevent burnout. They also trigger the release of some of that dopamine we mentioned earlier! All of this contributes to enhancing our productivity without sacrificing our health and well-being.

Of course, resuming a task after a break is… not exactly the easiest. It’s like when you sit down after jogging for a few minutes and you never want to get up again. Trust me, I've been there. This brings us to the next life hack, which is–

#3: The 5-Minute Rule

You’ve heard of the 5-second rule food myth, now here’s the five-minute rule–though they have nothing to do with each other aside from possessing very similar names. 

Now, what is this 5-minute rule? Well, it’s a simple technique you can use to try to overcome procrastination. Just take a timer, set it for five minutes, and commit to that task for those five minutes until the timer goes off. If you don’t feel like continuing, after the five minutes, you’re free to stop and go back to the task another time. Easy enough, right? But the fascinating thing is: many people work past those five minutes, even though some don't expect themselves to! We get momentum from starting and thus keep going after the five minutes. And even if you don't, at least you've started and made some progress! 

You Can Do This! 

And… there you have it! Three life hacks to help combat procrastination. If you find that these three tips aren't helpful for you, don't worry! There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution. Don't be afraid to explore other techniques, and find what works best for you. 

Remember–no matter how difficult or how monumental the task may seem, you have what it takes. All you have to do is take the first step. 

Tan Yi Han

1 Justice

2025