The answer isn’t “more motivation.” It’s redesigning the game.

Your brain delays what feels painful: the uncertain, the complex, the exposing. It prefers what’s safe and immediate. Period.

The answer isn’t “more motivation.” It’s redesigning the game.

First, shrink the monster. Not “write the report,” but “open the file and write three lines.” So small it doesn’t trigger the alarm.

Second, set time and place. “Later” is no-man’s-land. “Tomorrow, 9:30, clear desk, 25 minutes.” A concrete plan beats a vague wish.

Third, remove friction. One screen, one task, zero notifications. If you need to look something up, park it for later. Keep the track clean.

Fourth, bring the reward closer. Make progress visible: a checkbox, a counter, a version sent. The brain works better when it sees movement.

Fifth, make it public. Tell your team: “I’ll send the draft at 11.” Identity pushes where willpower wobbles.

And when you slip—because you will—don’t dramatize it. Go back to minute one. One minute creates traction; traction creates focus.

The question isn’t “How do I stop procrastinating forever?”
The question is: “What can I do in the next two minutes that moves the needle?”

Do it now. Repeat tomorrow. And the next day.
You’re not chasing perfection; you’re building a system that gets you to done, step by step.