Overcoming ProcrastinationSample

Freedom From Procrastination

We’ve been discussing procrastination over the last couple of days to help us better understand what it is and what drives it. Today, I want to end this devotional with good news: we can overcome procrastination! We’re going to get practical and talk through some tools and techniques that can help us. Another challenge, a new assignment, or another difficult conversation is coming. So, we must be ready for when the temptation to “do it tomorrow” creeps up.

So, what can we do when we’re faced with the choice to procrastinate or act?

1. Take the task or project and break it down into small goals.The fear we talked about yesterday can really set in when we see the task in front of us as this big, daunting thing. But if we can just break it down into bite-sized chunks, it becomes a lot less scary, and a lot more doable! A biblical principle that can help us with this is Jesus’s teaching in Matthew 6, where He tells us not to worry about tomorrow. He invites to put worry aside and partner with Him day by day, hour by hour, and moment by moment. By breaking down larger tasks into smaller goals, we can apply our efforts by working towards the small goal in front of us, and not worry so much about possible failure.

2. Address the fear driving your procrastination and tell yourself the truth.I’ll be honest, when I tackle something, even writing a devotional like this one, I’m tempted to procrastinate. I think things like, “Where will I even begin? What will I say? This is too much work!” And then I'm tempted to put it off. My personal fears take over. I fear I don’t have what it takes, that it won’t be good enough, that others will judge me, and that I will fail. It’s not hard for me to catastrophize and jump to worst-case scenarios. If you’re anything like me, you can relate. In this negative state, telling myself the truth looks like saying, “God has gifted me, and I can do this. I’ve done it before, and I can do it again. I know this is going to help people, even if it’s not perfect. I’ll start with the basic outline, move on to the rough draft, and get help along the way.”

3. Get around people who believe in you, encourage you, and speak life into you. This strategy has helped me overcome procrastination and move past a fear of failure. Friends and mentors encourage me, build me up, push me to take risks, and celebrate with me—no matter how well or poorly I think I’ve done. They speak life into me and motivate me to just go for it.

There is freedom from procrastination, and that freedom is for you. Try these tips when you’re tempted to procrastinate again. They’ve helped me, and I know they will help you too.

Thought of the Day: I am so thankful that change is available to me today. With God’s help, I will apply the knowledge from this devotional to action that will lead me to my goals.

For more help and resources on overcoming emotional and mental health struggles, check out resolutionmovement.org