1. Start small. Big projects can seem daunting or overwhelming.

It can be easy to procrastinate when you have projects like building a website or writing a book staring you down. But you don’t have to do it all at once! Instead, break the big project into smaller, more manageable tasks. Finishing one small task gives you a sense of accomplishment and helps you see what step you need to take next. Starting small helps you see the path forward towards finishing the larger project.

2. Tell someone.

Hold yourself accountable by telling a friend, spouse, or mentor what you are going to do. Give yourself something specific and a deadline of when it will be done. That person can hold you accountable. Having an external force who is relying on you can push you forward to getting stuff done.

3. Give yourself a reward.

Motivate yourself to get to work with an incentive after the task is complete. Find the reward that motivates you—it could be taking the rest of the day off work, buying something new, going to dinner, or whatever it takes to motivate you to get to work. But be firm with yourself so that you don’t actually get the reward until you finish the task. 

It’s easy to fall into the trap of procrastination, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay there. When you feel the urge to procrastinate, try these three tips and conquer that procrastination.