Hi Felix,

Why Procrastination Affects High Achievers

Even the most driven individuals occasionally put things off. Sometimes it’s because a task seems too big or intimidating, other times it’s simply because our energy flags and we’d rather focus on something that feels easier. Procrastination can be a silent productivity killer—it steals your momentum and saps your confidence over time. The sooner you address it, the sooner you’ll regain your sense of progress and accomplishment.

Tools and Tricks to Keep You Moving Forward

• Time yourself.
  Set a timer for 15 or 20 minutes and commit to working on nothing else. Often, the initial resistance melts away once you dive in.
  
  
• Use mini-rewards.
  Promise yourself a small treat—like a good cup of coffee or five minutes of leisure reading—after completing a chunk of work.
  
  
• Set clear boundaries.
  If phone alerts or notifications sidetrack you, switch them off during your work block. This helps you focus long enough to build momentum.

It can also help to reflect on why you’re avoiding a particular task. Is it genuinely difficult, or does it feel less important compared to other pressing items on your plate? Sometimes, assigning an explicit priority or attaching a tangible benefit to a delayed task can help you see its true value, making it easier to get started. If you still feel stuck, consider breaking the task down even further or seeking an accountability partner—a friend, colleague, or mentor who checks in on your progress.

Another practical approach is to adjust your environment. Even a minor change, like working in a different room or playing background music, can give you a fresh perspective and reduce the sense of drudgery. Experiment to see what sparks your motivation.

Key Insight: Breaking Tasks into Smaller Steps

One of the biggest reasons tasks linger is that they feel overwhelming. By dissecting your project into smaller action steps, you transform a massive undertaking into a series of manageable tasks. This not only reduces intimidation but also creates a clear path forward. Each small win fuels motivation, making it easier to tackle the next step.

Action Step

Pick a task you’ve been delaying, break it into the smallest actionable steps, and do the first step immediately—before you even overthink it. If time or focus is short, set a timer for just 10 minutes, commit fully to the task for that duration, and see if you gain enough momentum to continue.

Here’s to conquering procrastination one small step at a time,

Felix Brabander
Founder of SensitiveHighAchievers.com