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- The easiest way to stop procrastinating (really).
The easiest way to stop procrastinating (really).
A 5-minute trick that works every time—plus Bailey’s take on self-care.
Jessica Ribbens & Bailey
January 17, 2025
Welcome to REMOTivatEd, the email newsletter that helps you thrive in the remote work world—one actionable tip at a time!
Today, you’ll learn how to overcome procrastination for good!
Can I admit something? I’ve been procrastinating writing this newsletter. Yep. Me—procrastinating while writing about overcoming procrastination. 🤦♀️ But here’s the thing: I finished it using the exact tip I’m about to share with you.
Sometimes, we find ourselves procrastinating on things we don’t want to do (like filling out a boring form) or even things we do want to do (kind of like me writing this email!).
Why do we do this?
Sometimes, it’s fear of mistakes. Other times, it’s a lack of motivation or perfectionism. Often, it’s all three, layered together like a parfait of perfect excuses.
Whatever you are procrastinating on, I found a new go-to strategy that works for me every time.
Ready for it? Here it is:
Just work on it for 5 minutes.
Sounds ridiculous right?
I mean, 5 minutes, why bother?
I was skeptical too. But here’s how it works.
The hardest part of overcoming procrastination is starting. By telling yourself, “I’ll only work on this for 5 minutes,” you lower the stakes. You trick your brain out of resistance. And once you start, you’ll often find it easier to keep going.
That’s exactly what happened with this email. I sat down, told myself I’d write for just 5 minutes, and before I knew it, the words were flowing.
Even if you only work for 5 minutes, you’ve made progress—and that small step can motivate you to keep going.
Try it for yourself! And when you do, let me know how it works for you—I’d love to hear your story.
– Jessica
The human behind REMOTivatEd
P.S. Got a question or a favorite productivity tip? Hit reply—I’d love to hear from you!
Hello humans!
It’s not every day that a dog gets their chance to say something to the world.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot—while on walks, chasing squirrels, and even during dinner (which is saying something, because I really love dinner).
Here’s what I’ve decided: humans and dogs are very different. You see, what humans say and what humans do often don’t line up. Like when my human says, “We’ll go for a walk later,” but then spends hours working instead.
Humans always seem to put work before their own needs.
Not us dogs. If there’s a bowl of food in front of us, we dive right in, even if we’re not hungry. We live in the moment and take care of what we need right then and there.
What I’m trying to say is that humans could learn a thing or two from us dogs. You need to spend more time doing what you need—whether that’s taking a break, getting some fresh air, or just enjoying a snack without guilt.
Want to know a little secret about us dogs? Humans think they’re the ones taking us for walks. But really, we’re the ones taking care of you. We know that humans sometimes forget to look after themselves, so we make sure you get outside, breathe fresh air, and take a break from all that work.
So, if you have a pet, give them a hug from me! And remember: the next time you go for a walk, it’s not just for us—it’s for you, too.
Until next week!
– Bailey 🐾