This recap blog was written by Kellie Manderfeld with Kellie Manderfeld Life Coach, a member of the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce as a part of our Coaching Hour Series.

Overcoming Procrastination: Aligning Thoughts with Actions

As a life coach, I’ve seen firsthand how procrastination holds people back from achieving their goals. It’s not just about time management; it’s about addressing the deeper emotional and mental blocks that keep you stuck. The good news? You don’t have to tackle it alone. With the right mindset, strategies, and accountability, you can overcome procrastination and start making real progress.

Understanding Procrastination

There are three common types of procrastination:

• Perfectionism – The belief that if you can’t do it perfectly now, it’s not worth starting.
• Avoidance – Feeling overwhelmed by a task and assuming it’s too difficult.
• Productive Procrastination – Tackling smaller, less important tasks while avoiding the real priority.

How to Take Action

Overcoming procrastination requires a mix of goal-setting, emotional awareness, and habit-building. Here’s how:

1. Manage Goals Effectively
   • Set realistic, achievable goals.
   • Define actionable steps.
   • Work backward from deadlines.
   • Build routines that promote consistency.
   • Reward yourself for progress.
2. Shift Your Mindset
   • Focus on why the task is important.
   • Recognize false justifications (e.g., “I’ll do better when I’m less tired”).
   • Reframe negative self-talk.
   • Tackle “have-to” tasks before “want-to” ones.
   • Break large tasks into smaller, manageable steps.
   • Acknowledge and celebrate small wins.

Seek Support & Accountability

One of the biggest game-changers in overcoming procrastination is accountability. When you share your goals with someone—a coach, mentor, or accountability partner—you increase your chances of follow-through. Often, we don’t see the obstacles we create for ourselves. Working with a coach can help identify these hidden roadblocks and develop personalized strategies to move past them.

The Key to Long-Term Change

Procrastination isn’t solved overnight. It requires self-reflection, new strategies, and a willingness to start over—again and again. Through trial and error, you’ll find the habits and mindset shifts that work best for you. Remember that even the smallest step forward is a victory.

Summary & Takeaways:

• Identify which type(s) of procrastination affects you.
• Set realistic goals and break them into actionable steps.
• Change your mindset and recognize self-sabotaging thoughts.
• Seek outside assistance to identify obstacles and improve accountability.
• Celebrate progress, no matter how small.
• Be patient with yourself—it may take some trial and error to find what combination of approaches will work best for you.

Take control of your actions, seek the right support, and watch your aspirations turn into reality!

For more information contact Kellie at kellie@kellielifecoach.com or visit her online.