5 Foolproof Ways to Stop Procrastinating with Adult ADD

Simple Strategies to Start - and Finish - Projects

If you have adult ADD/ADHD, you’ve probably noticed that you procrastinate more than others. Such behavior can cause problems in personal relationships and those at the workplace. When we fail to complete tasks on time, others see it as a sign of disrespect, incompetence, or laziness.

Because procrastination is essentially a mind-set, cognitive-behavior techniques can help even chronic procrastinators break the habit. If you’ve been putting something off for days (or months), try the following ADHD time-management tips.

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Don't Beat Yourself Up

What we silently say to ourselves about doing the task at hand has a strong impact on how (or whether) we do it. Avoid negative self-talk, and send yourself positive, realistic messages.

Instead of saying, “This will take forever, and it’s so late already…” substitute “I might not be able to finish this today, but I can do the first two steps within the next 30 minutes.”

The messages you send yourself when you complete a task can be powerful deterrents to future procrastination. They can also diminish the guilt that procrastinators often feel about having missed appointments in the past or having turned in work that doesn’t measure up to their ability.