I have a confession to make: I waited until the very last minute to write this blog post.

Why? I work best under pressure. Really? That’s just another excuse I tell myself but in reality, it’s procrastination. No matter how many productivity tips I discover, procrastination still stalks me from time to time.

Procrastination is a Universal Problem

Most of us know what we need to do, we just put it off. The problem with procrastination is that it becomes a way of life, a lifestyle. The more you do it, the better you become at it. Some people are professional procrastinators. They are very, very good at it.

The Bible has something to say about procrastination.

Anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. James 4:17

I know the things I ought to do, and I don’t do them. Here’s why:

Indecision Causes Procrastination

A double minded man is unstable in all he does. James 1:8

Indecision causes procrastination. Have you ever sent a waiter away at a restaurant because you couldn’t make up your mind? Indecision causes you to postpone buying a car, choosing a college, getting married, buying new clothes, or changing jobs.

Perfectionism Causes Procrastination

If you wait for perfect conditions, you’ll never get anything done!

Perfectionism produces procrastination. It causes all kinds of problems. If you wait for conditions to be perfect, you’re going to wait a long time. You don’t have the time or the money for things to be perfect.

[shareable]If you wait for perfect conditions, you’ll never get anything done![/shareable]

Fear Causes Procrastination

When you’re afraid, you tend to put things off. How many of you have been postponing going to the dentist? Or having that needed surgery? Or getting marriage counseling? Sharing your faith at work? Ask yourself, “What am I afraid of?”

[shareable]When you’re afraid, you tend to put things off. [/shareable]

How to Stop Procrastinating

Stop Making Excuses

What’s your excuse? People who are good at making excuses are rarely good at anything else. What is your excuse for procrastinating, putting off, not changing your life? The number one excuse I’m hearing: “I’ll get to it when things settle down.” They’re never going to settle down. We live in a rat-race society.

[shareable]People who are good at making excuses are rarely good at anything else.[/shareable]

Start Today

Not next month, next week, tomorrow — right now. Whatever it is you’re going to do, do it now!

Never boast about tomorrow. You don’t know what will happen between now and then. Proverbs 21:1

None of us is guaranteed a tomorrow. You don’t have any guarantee it’s going to be there tomorrow. You say, “I’ll do it someday.” Someday is today! One of these days is none of these days. Do it today. Start right now! I talk to people who say, “I’m aiming to change.” I just want to say, “When are you going to pull the trigger?” They’ve been aiming for years! You start right now! DO IT NOW!

Create a Schedule and Stick to It

If you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail. You need to designate some specific time slots each week for your subject, for your task. You block it out. Focus on the gain and not the pain. In life there are very few things that are easy.

A wise man plans ahead. A fool doesn’t. Proverbs 13:16

Life is tough. You must push through the frustration and look at the gain beyond the pain. Look at the reward rather than the temporary discomfort. Concentrate on how good you’re going to feel once you’ve finished the task.

So let us not become tired of doing good; for if we do not give up, the time will come when we reap a harvest. Galatians 6:9

The wrong question is “What do I feel like doing?” The right question is “What does God want me to do?” Only immature people live by their feelings. Jesus never said life would be easy. Life is all about sacrifice and commitment, but there is a tremendous reward when we push through these barriers.

[shareable]In life there are very few things that are easy.[/shareable]

What tips do you have to share that keep you from procrastinating?