Powerful anti-procrastination tools

Scores of people have found these two tips helpful in dealing with procrastination:

• Use the “five-minute plan.” Every task has a first step. Commit yourself to the five or 10 minutes it takes to take that first step, perhaps writing a paragraph or making a phone call. When that’s completed, consider committing to another five minutes for the next step ... and then another five. Once you start, momentum will keep you going.
• Lighten the pressure. Before you begin, promise yourself that you will work on the project only within the time you have available that day. By being reasonable with yourself and your expectations, you stand a far better chance of starting, and that’s usually the hardest part.