3 Tips to Overcoming Procrastination and Increasing Business Profits

How often do you find yourself staring at your to-do list, but instead of working on what’s on it, you procrastinate by checking email, social media, or something easier? And somehow, the hours slip away with nothing crossed off…

For so many business owners, especially the ones I work with, procrastination feels like quicksand. You start with good intentions, ready to dive into that project you know will bring in more revenue, but before you know it, you’re stuck. All the new stuff coming at you, all the interesting things to check out pile on, slowly pulling you under until the day is gone, and nothing impactful has been accomplished.

I get it—running a business means juggling a hundred different things at once. But here’s the truth: if procrastination is stealing your time, it’s also stealing your revenue. Every hour you lose to indecision or avoidance is an hour you’re not spending on the high-impact, money-making activities that will actually grow your business.

But you can break free. In this post, I’m going to share 3 powerful procrastination solutions that will help you stop delaying what matters, so you can finally focus on the projects that bring in more revenue and move your business forward.

1. Breaking the Task Down So It Has Enough Clarity That Someone Else Could Understand It

Imagine trying to follow a recipe that simply says “make dinner.” It would leave you confused and overwhelmed, right? That’s what happens when your to-do list consists of vague tasks like “work on website” or “plan marketing strategy.” You stare at it, feel lost, and end up procrastinating because your unconscious mind doesn’t know where to start.

When a task feels too big or unclear, your brain wants to avoid it. So the key is to break it down into smaller, actionable steps. Instead of “work on website,” try breaking it down into steps like “write the homepage intro,” “choose 5 photos for the gallery,” and “edit the contact form.” Each of these mini-tasks has a clear outcome and direction.

When you write tasks in a way that someone else could understand and follow, you eliminate the vagueness that feeds procrastination. It’s like handing a teammate a clear blueprint rather than a rough sketch. If someone else can take the list and know exactly what to do, it means you’ve given your brain enough clarity to dive right in without hesitation.

I’ve seen this procrastination solution work wonders for my clients. Suddenly, they’re in action after procrastinating for months.

2. Set Boundaries for Digital Distractions

The ping and ding of notifications can be a terrible distraction, but just as often we distract ourselves. We remember something we wanted to do that is much more appealing and off we go down a digital rabbit hole.

You’ve got to set up boundaries so your unconscious mind can’t just quickly pop over before you realize what’s happening. Add a browser extension that blocks certain sites and set up a Focus Mode when you are working on important tasks.  You’ve got to make it harder for your brain to switch over to cut out procrastination.

Treat your focus time like sacred ground—protect it fiercely, and you’ll see how much more you get done.

3. The Power of the 2-Minute Rule

Have you ever looked at a small task, something that would probably take you only a couple of minutes, and still found yourself putting it off? Maybe it’s responding to a quick email or organizing a few files, but for some reason, you keep delaying it.

This is where the 2-Minute Rule comes in as an effective procrastination solution. The idea is simple: if a task will take two minutes or less, do it immediately. The reason this works is that these tiny tasks can add up and create mental clutter, leaving you 3. The Power of the 2-Minute Rule

You know those small tasks—like answering a quick email or filing a document—that are easy to push off but still take up mental space? The 2-Minute Rule works wonders for clearing out those tiny tasks, but here’s where its real magic lies: it’s a powerful way to overcome resistance to bigger tasks.

The idea is simple: if something can be done in two minutes or less, do it immediately. But for larger tasks, the 2-Minute Rule also works as a psychological hack. When you commit to just two minutes of work on a bigger project, the resistance melts away. Why? Because starting feels less daunting. You tell yourself, “It’s just two minutes, I can handle that,” and once you begin, something amazing happens—more often than not, you keep going.

Imagine it like dipping your toe in the water. At first, you hesitate, but once you take that small step and feel the water isn’t so bad, you wade in further. It’s the same with bigger tasks. Starting with just two minutes can ease you into the flow, and before you know it, you’re deep into the work that really matters.

The 2-Minute Rule is an essential procrastination solution because it reduces the mental barrier to starting. Once you’re in motion, inertia takes over, and you end up making progress on the high-impact tasks that will move your business forward.

feeling overwhelmed and less productive overall. By knocking out those quick wins right away, you clear space in your mind for more meaningful work.

Think of it like clearing away little pebbles from a path so that you can walk smoothly toward your bigger goals. When you allow small tasks to pile up, they create roadblocks that make it harder to move forward on larger, high-impact projects.

By adopting the 2-Minute Rule, you eliminate the mental weight of these minor tasks, and you gain momentum to tackle the bigger ones. It’s a quick, simple procrastination solution that can transform how you approach your day.

These are just a few of the procrastination solutions that can help you break free from delay and start making real progress on the tasks that grow your business. The best part? You can implement each of these strategies in just a few minutes, allowing you to spend less time procrastinating and more time focusing on what really matters—whether that’s scaling your business, serving your clients, or finally enjoying more time with your family.