I’m listening to all these experts, and it’s clear—they don’t have a procrastination bone in their bodies. They are doctors with degrees and have authored multiple books. Easy tasks for a procrastinator, right? Not exactly. You need to hear from someone who truly understands the struggle—someone like a crack addict, the ultimate dopamine seeker, who knows nothing about postponing pleasure to get something done.

Now, crack was after my time. I stopped using drugs in 1980, 44 years ago, long before crack and even before Richard Pryor’s infamous freebasing accident. So, I’m as close as you’re going to get to an expert.

From the Lowest of the Low to Success

How did I go from the lowest point to becoming extremely successful, making nearly a million dollars a year in commissions, and running a $30 million-a-year company? I also ran for Congress—both the United States Congress and subsequently the New Jersey Congress. I transmitted the first PDF advertisement to Time Magazine after contributing to the PDF standards. Then I founded and managed a non-surgical cosmetic office that has delivered over 20,000 successful treatments and has become an international destination with patients flying in weekly.

I could go on, but I find people who boast about their accomplishments boring and in need of a shrink. Just know that I was the lowest form of life and reached reasonable levels of success. Now, let’s segue into what worked for me and, more importantly, what can work for you.

What Works for You?

Assuming you’ve managed to prepare or order a meal and aren’t sitting in your own mess, you have some level of motivation to get things done. Maybe your dishes are piled to the ceiling, but at least you made a meal or ordered one.

I’m pondering this today because, after listening to all the experts—doctors, best-selling authors—I’ve heard a few good ideas but nothing close to an aha moment. So, it’s time for me to tackle this topic.

Let’s Get Down to It

1. Just Get Started: One expert suggested working for five minutes. I agree. For me, during tax season, I didn’t set a time limit. I just promised to start, and an hour flew by. Don’t let fear of failure stop you. It will get done imperfectly, as all things do. Promise yourself one minute or whatever works for you. Just get started.
2. Good Procrastination for Energy: Huh? Sometimes, I clean or clear clutter to open up space and get started. Clearing clutter can release energy, but you know when it crosses the line into procrastination. This isnt the time to vacuum the whole house.
3. Clear Your Desk: Put papers into one pile, Apps like Getting Things Done or Things recommend just clearing the desk and making a pile without sorting or reading each paper. Open space and eliminate distractions.
4. Time of Day: Identify when you’re most productive. Telling someone when to do something is idiotic. You might be most productive at 6 am, 10 am, 2 pm, 8 pm, or 10 pm. Study yourself—this is my number one rule for life.
5. Study Yourself Again: When are you successful at getting things done versus procrastinating? Is it after your second cup of coffee at 8 am or 10 am? Is it when you’ve had protein and fat for breakfast? For me, eggs work best—they provide all the amino acids, fatty acids and choline for the brain.
6. Don’t Waste Your Most Productive Time: Do the hardest mental tasks when you have your best energy. Don’t clean the house during your magic hours of productivity. That’s a rote task you can do anytime.
7. Understand Your Task: I’m addressing people procrastinating on mental tasks that require research and trial and error. If you’re procrastinating on physical cleaning, the rules might be different. You might want to reverse the rules and do a little paperwork to break up house cleaning.
8. Celebrate Your Successes: There’s a book called The One Minute Manager that suggests catching even the worst worker doing something right and congratulating them. If you’re treating yourself as the “worst worker” or procrastinator, celebrate your successes. Notice what led to the moment when you started on your taxes. Was it after a good meal? How long after eating? What supplements did you take?
9. Different Forms of Procrastination: Eustress is good stress, coined by Hans Selye in 1976. I’m inventing “euprocrastination”—beneficial procrastination.
10. Euprocrastination (Good Procrastination):
    • A 5-minute exercise break.
    • A 5-minute cleaning break.
    • A 5-minute clutter clearing break.
    • A 5-minute walk.
    • 5 minutes of stretching.
    • 5 minutes of meditating.
    • 5 minutes of visualizing how good you’ll feel when it’s done.
    • A 5-minute break for water or a protein-based snack.
    • A 5-minute important phone call with a timer.
    • 5 minutes of “task changing.”

1. Task Changing: You have to do your taxes, but you also need to schedule your yearly physical, send out a client invoice, and call your mother-in-law. Bringing a number 2 priority item to the forefront isn’t the end of the world. For some, it helps you get the hard task done. For others, it might lead you down a rabbit hole.
2. Avoid Rabbit Holes: You know when you’re going down a rabbit hole. Don’t use replying to emails or Facebook comments as an excuse to procrastinate. Be aware of what you’re doing and stay focused.
3. Study Yourself: Did I say that already? Repeat it. No one knows you better than you. We can all offer suggestions, but only you know what works for you and what you might still be hiding.

Final Thoughts

If you take nothing else away, remember to study yourself and be aware. You are the expert on you. Recognize what leads to procrastination and what leads to productivity. Great suggestions are everywhere, but only you can determine which ones apply to you.

Unless you’re Tinker Bell, Jiminy Cricket, or Kazoo from the Flintstones, no one knows exactly what you’re doing except for you. I may be repeating myself, but it’s important to remember. This might lead to our next blog. Dont ask anyone about something specific. No one was there.