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Nancy Marshall
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How To
How to stop procrastinating and get things done
By Nancy Marshall, Marshall Communications
Procrastination is one of those habits we all recognize in ourselves, yet somehow excuse. We complain about how busy we are. We commiserate with colleagues about overloaded schedules. We answer emails, attend meetings, scroll our phones and check social media — while quietly avoiding the one or two big projects that would actually move us closer to our goals.
The truth is, procrastination rarely looks like laziness. More often, it disguises itself as productivity. We do the small, easy, familiar tasks because they feel manageable and give us a quick sense of accomplishment.
Meanwhile, the big, meaningful work — strategy, planning, writing, business development —gets pushed to “later.”
And later often never comes.
Big projects can feel overwhelming. They require focus, sustained effort and sometimes uncomfortable thinking. They also carry risks: What if it doesn’t turn out well? What if we invest the time and don’t see immediate results? So instead, we talk about how much work we have. We bond over stress. We complain, ironically spending more time talking about the work than actually doing it.
Here’s the hard truth: complaining is a form of procrastination. It gives us the illusion that we’re addressing the problem, when in fact we’re just circling around it.
We also need to talk about devices, because they have fundamentally changed how our brains work. I can say this honestly: my brain has been rewired by my phone. And I don’t think I’m alone.
Our phones are engineered to reward distraction. Social media, email, texts, news alerts deliver constant stimulation in bite-sized hits. When a task feels difficult or dull, it is far easier to scroll than to think deeply. The phone offers instant relief from discomfort, boredom or uncertainty.
Limiting AI distractions
As if social media weren’t tempting enough, artificial intelligence has made our phones and devices even more irresistible. Yes, this includes tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity.
AI is powerful, helpful and genuinely transformative. It can save time, spark ideas and remove friction from many tasks. But it also makes distraction feel productive. We can research endlessly, brainstorm forever and refine ideas repeatedly — without ever doing the work itself.
AI doesn’t create procrastination, but it certainly enables it. The responsibility remains ours to decide when technology is serving our goals or when it’s simply helping us delay them.
Breaking the cycle
As we head into 2026, this is the perfect moment to break the cycle. Rather than adding more goals to your list, start by eliminating one thing: chronic procrastination.
Identify your “big rocks,” which are the projects that truly matter. Stop talking about them and start them, even if only for ten minutes. Control your devices instead of letting them control you. Silence notifications, set boundaries and create space for focus.
Timing is everything
Pay attention to your energy patterns. Productivity isn’t one-size-fits-all. Personally, I find my most productive window is between 4 and 5 p.m., when I get a second wind at the end of the day. Knowing this allows me to schedule important work when I’m naturally energized.
Finally, remember that progress beats perfection. Big goals are achieved through consistent action, not endless preparation. If you want 2026 to be different, put down the phone, stop complaining and start doing. Your future self will thank you.
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