HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done (HBR Guide Series)

Chapter 8

Stop Procrastinating—Now

by Amy Gallo

It seems that no one is immune to procrastination. When someone asked Ernest Hemingway how to write a novel, he replied, “First you defrost the refrigerator.” But putting off tasks takes a big toll on our productivity and our psyche.

Here are five principles to follow the next time you find yourself procrastinating:

1. Figure Out What’s Holding You Back

When you find yourself ignoring or delaying a task, ask yourself why. Psychiatrist Ned Hallowell says there are two types of tasks we most often defer:

• Something you don’t like to do. This is the most common one. As Hallowell says, “You don’t put off eating your favorite dessert.”
• Something you don’t know how to do. When you lack the necessary knowledge ...