how to stop procrastinating lavendaire

Procrastination isn't about laziness. It's about fear.

Fear you're not good enough. Fear the project is too big. Fear you'll pour your heart into something and watch it fail. So you do nothing, because doing nothing feels safer than trying and missing the mark.

But the secret is you can be afraid and still do the thing. It’s a muscle. You build it by taking one tiny, almost laughable step.

The Tiny Step

Forget "write a novel." Your only task is to "open a Google Doc." That's it. Cross it off the list. The next task? "Type one word."

This is how you break down scary goals into pieces so small they feel ridiculous not to do. You're just building a little momentum. One tiny step makes the next one easier. Then the next. And suddenly, you’re moving.

I remember trying to start a workout routine last year. For two weeks, "Go to the gym" just sat on my to-do list, staring at me. One afternoon I was driving home in my 2011 Honda Civic, saw the time was 4:17 PM, and just decided to pull into the gym parking lot. I didn't even go in. The next day, I went inside and stretched. The day after that, I finally worked out. It all started with just parking the car.

Batch Your Life

Switching between tasks kills your focus. Answering an email, then writing a paragraph, then making a call, then editing a photo—your brain just can't keep up.

So, batch similar work together. Block out a whole morning or even a full day for one mode of thinking.

• Writing/Planning Day: No meetings, no distractions. Just you and your thoughts.
• Shooting/Creative Day: All your energy goes into making things.
• Admin Day: Knock out all the boring stuff at once. Emails, bills, scheduling—gone.

This lets your brain settle into a groove instead of constantly having to warm up again.

Use a Focus Timer

The Pomodoro Technique is popular because it works. Set a timer for 25 minutes and focus on a single task. No phone, no email, no distractions. When the timer goes off, take a 5-minute break. After four rounds, take a longer one.

If 25 minutes feels too long for a task you're dreading, start smaller. Set a timer for five minutes. Anyone can do something for five minutes. And often, just starting is enough to build the momentum to keep going long after the timer dings.

Know Where You're Going

You'll always procrastinate if you don't know what you're supposed to be doing. Vagueness is the enemy. This is where high-level planning, like using an Artist of Life Workbook, helps. It forces you to decide what matters for the year or the quarter.

But a workbook isn't a daily planner. You still need a system for today. Trello, a notebook, whatever—just get the tasks out of your head and into a place where you can see them.

Take the Pressure Off

The project you're avoiding is scary because you've decided it's important. You've attached your self-worth to the outcome. You think if it fails, you're a failure.

You're not.

Give yourself permission to do a bad job. A messy first draft is infinitely better than a perfect, blank page. You can always fix something that's written down. You can't edit nothing. Lowering the stakes makes it easier to start. And starting is everything.