If you’ve read my blog post on how procrastination can be a writer’s best friend, you may be thinking, “But, Julia, it’s not for me. I can’t overcome procrastination on my own. It’s really holding me back.”

And, I hear you. Procrastination can disrupt our creative flow at times.

So, to help you realign with your creativity and find space for productive procrastination in your life, I’ve provided you with 7 strategies to support you when procrastination does become a problem.

Let’s jump right in and get you back to writing!

Why do you procrastinate?

Many writers suffer from a fear of failure and procrastination is a symptom of this fear. 

But, maybe that isn’t it for you. Maybe, it’s your perfectionism that’s causing you to procrastinate.

Take some time to reflect and see if you can get really specific. 

Break down fear of failure even further. What do you fear? Why do you procrastinate? What patterns lead to your habit of procrastination? 

Awareness is the first step toward turning procrastination into a positive tool in your arsenal.

Writing a novel is a nonspecific although ambitious goal.

Deciding to complete the first draft of your fantasy manuscript by January 2025 provides you with a specific timeline and achievable end goal to pursue. 

A firm deadline can help you to maintain your motivation.

And, you can determine how much procrastination time will be useful without hindering you from accomplishing your task.

If looking at your giant writing goal is overwhelming you, take some time to dig down even deeper into what specific task needs to be accomplished (ex. Character profiles, plot outline, chapter one, even a daily word count).

Focus on that task to prevent overwhelm. Then, consider the next task that needs to be completed. Do this as often as needed.

Procrastination could be a symptom of feeling stretched thin by the sheer size of your goals. Make them appear manageable so avoidance isn’t an issue.

If your workspace is in the same place where you watch TV or lounge on your bed, your brain may not believe that it is “work time.”

Due to habit, our body is trained to see the couch or the bed as a resting place, not a workspace. 

Find yourself a small nook in your home that you can revamp into your writing space. Set your phone on silent or put it in another room. Leave the house and work at a cafe if you must. 

Ensure that you’ve built a productive space. Keep all the supplies you need close by. There’s no point wasting time looking for your notebook or charger. 

After consistently returning to your dedicated workspace, your mind will realize that once you sit in that chair it’s time to get down to the business of writing!

It’s time to take a look at what works best for you.

Some people will write for an hour straight while others thrive on shorter work sessions interspersed with timed breaks. 

Scour the internet and try out a few different strategies.

The Pomodoro technique is a popular tool that many use. Writing and checking off to-do lists can provide you with mini-wins to celebrate. Time blocking your calendar can provide non-negotiable writing spaces. 

Check out this blog post to learn how I used time management techniques to rebuild my writing habit .

If you need someone to keep you accountable, or to check in with your progress, ask a friend or a fellow writer.

When you know that another person is expecting to see the progress you’ve made, you’re sure to feel motivated to please them. 

Find an accountability partner who also has a goal that they want to accomplish. So long as you’re both dedicated to making this arrangement work, you’ll likely remain committed. 

Consider joining a writer’s group or finding writer friends online to develop a web of support. 

Sign up for my newsletter and join this amazing community of creatives who are sure to motivate you along your writing journey!

We all fall into a slump on occasion. 

Sometimes the Instagram rabbit hole is just so compelling.

When procrastination gets the best of you, acknowledge it, and show yourself a little compassion.

Remember occasional procrastination is normal. No need to beat yourself up.

I’m confident that you can overcome negative procrastination habits and return to the best writerly version of yourself!

Share about a time when procrastination got the best of you.

If you have another strategy that you use to overcome procrastination, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!

Talk soon!

Julia