We don’t usually say, “I’ll never do it.” We say, “I’ll do it later.” But “later” is a slippery word—quiet, polite, and deadly to our goals. Procrastination doesn’t steal entire years at once; it picks our days clean, one small delay at a time.
“A year from now you may wish you had started today.” — Karen Lamb
Why We Wait
Perfectionism: If it can’t be perfect, we stall. Overwhelm: The task feels too big to swallow in one bite. Ambiguity: We don’t know the first step, so we take no step. Hidden fear: What if I fail… or succeed and have to keep going?
The good news? Procrastination isn’t a personality trait—it’s a habit. And habits can be changed.
The “Five-Minute Doorway”
When a task feels heavy, don’t try to finish it. Just start it for five minutes. Five minutes is the doorway; once you’re inside, momentum takes over. Tell yourself, “I only owe this five minutes.” Often you’ll keep going—if not, you still broke the delay cycle and proved to yourself that you can start.
The Two-Minute Reset (Faith + Action)
Breathe & Pray (60 seconds): “Lord, order my steps, steady my mind, and bless the work of my hands.” Micro-move (60 seconds): Open the document, lay out your gym clothes, set the appointment, or send the first email. Motion creates emotion.
Scripture spark: “Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.” (Ecclesiastes 11:4)
Also see Proverbs 6:6–8 and James 4:17.
Make It Smaller, Make It Sooner
Chunk it: Break the task into three tiny, visible steps. Time-box it: Work in 15-minute focus blocks with a 3-minute stretch. Park on downhill: Stop each session by writing the very next action so tomorrow is easy to begin. Public promise: Tell one person your start time today. Accountability turns “someday” into a scheduled appointment.
A Short Story: The Two Pain Piles
A friend once showed me his desk with two piles: Pain Now and Pain Later. “Pain Now” had small, doable items—call the dentist, pay the bill, write the intro. “Pain Later” had the same tasks, but each now carried interest: late fees, stress, strained relationships. He said, “I choose my pain. I prefer the kind that ends quickly.” That day, he took one card from “Pain Now,” set a five-minute timer, and started. By lunch, the pile had shrunk—and so had his anxiety. The lesson stuck: do it small, do it now, enjoy it longer.
Your 24-Hour Anti-Procrastination Plan
Pick One Thing you’ve been delaying. Write the First Three Micro-Steps. (Example: open file → outline 3 bullets → write first 100 words.) Set a 15-Minute Timer and begin today. Send a Proof Pic (screenshot, checkmark, calendar snap) to an accountability partner. Close Strong: Park on downhill—note the next action for tomorrow.
Prayer
“Father, thank You for the time You’ve given me today. Help me trade hesitation for humble beginnings, fear for faith, and delay for diligent steps. Order my priorities and strengthen my follow-through. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Reflection Questions
What one task, if started today, would lighten your spirit the most? What fear hides beneath your delay—and what truth can replace it? Who will you text when you’ve completed your five minutes?
Call to Action: Don’t wait for motivation—let motion create it. Set a five-minute timer right now and take the first step. Then celebrate the start!
J D Canter E Books 