Procrastination Coaching

Unlock your full potential with strategies and tips to beat procrastination.

See Our Plans & Pricing
Coach Match Guarantee badge.png?width=200&height=194&name=Coach Match Guarantee badge

What Is Procrastination?

Procrastination is delaying or putting off tasks until the last minute due to the discomfort of getting started. In many instances, procrastination can be the root problem that all others stem from in our lives. That temporary relief we feel when putting off an important task or responsibility usually pales in comparison to the multitude of consequences that come afterward.

Table of Contents

What is procrastination?

Procrastination tips and strategies

How procrastination coaching can help you

What to expect with procrastination coaching

Additional Executive Function skills we help with

Beat Procrastination like a Pro

Learn tried and true procrastination strategies that will help you take control of your day.

See Our Plans & Pricing

Procrastination Strategies

Our Executive Function coaches don't look at procrastination as a sign of laziness, but rather as a habit stemming from avoidance. Coaches work to get to the root of this avoidance by connecting with our clients through reflective conversations. They then custom-pick coach-tested tools and strategies that help with task initiation for clients to experiment with between sessions.

Chunk It

Break big projects down into manageable chunks. An hour of work often seems much more doable than 7 hours. But chunking is an art form, so make sure these “chunks” are realistic and specific. Breaking a task into 20 parts may be overwhelming – who can keep track of that much? However, only 2 or 3 parts may not provide enough structure to keep you on track. Depending on the size of the task, about 5-10 chunks with specific outcomes are ideal.  Set interim deadlines for smaller portions of the task. And for the initial planning session? Make it a 5-minute goal to get the ball rolling!

Transform the Deadline Mindset

The word “deadline” seems to instill a feeling of dread. It’s a race against the clock, a stressful countdown, a horrible weight hanging over one’s head. Try to look at deadlines in a different light. A deadline can be viewed as a helpful tool – they force you to make decisions and push forward, rather than dwelling on a specific aspect of a project for days. Reframe your thoughts – don’t think of that upcoming deadline as a burden, but rather look forward to it as a time when your work will be finished! In fact, calling it a finish line might help you adopt a different mindset that emphasizes accomplishment instead of looming misery.

5-Minute Goals

Big tasks can be overwhelming for students and adults. Oftentimes, we make to-do lists that are longer than what can possibly be accomplished given the time in each day. To use 5-minute goals, select a task that should take no more than 5 minutes, set the timer, and get started! 

You can even try this strategy for tasks that might take more than 5 minutes as a simple way to get started. If you need to put away dishes, set that timer for 5 minutes and just do whatever you can accomplish within that time frame. Now, you're already into the task and have accomplished more than you did 5 minutes ago,

Use Rewards

Don’t discount the power of a reward. Sometimes something as simple as a 10-minute break is sufficient to motivate you. Find out what motivates you and set realistic rewards you can work towards.

How Coaching Helps With Procrastination

Individualized procrastination coaching will help you improve your ability to start tasks.
Canva Design DAFn4ksbkQc
Focus

Lack of focus can be a constant problem for those struggling with Executive Dysfunction. Students may struggle to complete long essays, finish tests on time, or do homework in a reasonable amount of time. 

How Coaching Helps 

Our coaches look at a lack of focus as a sign that a client's work habits may need renewed structure. Coaches teach clients strategies that help them minimize or eliminate distractions and reduce multitasking while they work. They also encourage frequent breaks, chunking assignments or tasks into manageable pieces, and finding the right combination of environmental factors to encourage optimal focus. Clients often commit to small experiments in one or more of these areas during the week that can then provide the baseline for future improvements and strategy refinement in future sessions. Over our nearly 17 years of coaching clients, we've found that many of our clients benefit from strategies to manage life's distractions - whether or not they have ADHD.

Canva Design DAFn4oYDi90
Prioritization

Prioritization is the process of deciding the relative importance or urgency needed when faced with multiple tasks.

How coaching helps

Our coaches teach prioritization by helping clients set realistic goals and prioritize tasks based on importance and urgency. One technique we use is teaching clients to break large projects into smaller tasks and set deadlines. To teach this skill, our coaches guide clients in using tools such as Gantt charts or Eisenhower matrices to visualize and manage tasks

Canva Design DAFn4s-7xNY
Distractability

It's normal for students to occasionally find themselves distracted. However, regularly struggling to stay focused has a number of serious consequences that can hold them back, including poor grades, relationship challenges, challenges with self-care, and heightened stress and anxiety overall.

How Coaching Helps

Our coaches teach clients strategies to minimize distractions, such as creating a designated workspace and using noise-canceling headphones. We do this by introducing techniques to improve concentration, such as the Pomodoro Technique or mindfulness practices. Coaches also encourage clients to take regular breaks and engage in physical activity to maintain focus.

Canva Design DAFn4lmd5Oo
Productivity

Productivity is how efficiently students can complete tasks, consistently.

How Coaching Helps

Our coaches help promote productivity by helping clients develop strategies to maintain motivation, such as visualizing the end result or creating a reward system, encouraging clients to track progress and celebrate small wins along the way, and teaching clients to develop resilience and learn from setbacks or challenges.

Canva Design DAFn4n7mhNY
Organization

Organization encompasses the ability to keep track of personal belongings, maintain an orderly space, and manage deadlines. A lack of organization can have serious consequences like misplaced assignments, heightened stress, relationship problems, financial impacts, and more.

How Coaching Helps 

Our coaches are equipped with a deep knowledge of well-researched organizational tools & strategies at their fingertips. Coaches work to better understand their clients' organizational habits and get to the root of their barriers to implementing systems to get organized. They then utilize this understanding to create a game plan that may involve small organizational commitments week to week.

What To Expect From Procrastination Coaching

In 1:1 sessions online, coaches help clients identify, employ, and evaluate tools and strategies that address their specific needs. Our coaches customize their approach to each individual depending upon their attitude toward changing work habits. We use a research-based model to attain clients’ buy-in to improve their self-management skills and lead to lasting change.

A Four-Step Process

Coaches at Beyond BookSmart use 4 steps - Reach, Teach, Reflect, and Release - when working with clients. 

  • You and your child share your goals
  • Your child learns customized time management strategies
  • Your child gains insight and accountability
  • Your child becomes proficient at managing time.
Get started with coaching

Other Executive Function Skills We Help With

The foundation of our program is built on the premise of helping the student develop long-term habits for success. We go beyond assisting our students with work and aim to approve their working habits in

3-removebg-preview-1
Time Management

Coaches introduce time management strategies that encourage clients to estimate how long certain tasks will take and then plan out when they'll get them done.

 

3-removebg-preview-1
Organization

Our coaches are equipped with a deep knowledge of well-researched organizational tools & strategies at their fingertips. Coaches work to better understand their clients' organizational habits and get to the root of their barriers to implementing systems to get organized.

3-removebg-preview-1
Focus

Our coaches look at a lack of focus as a sign that a client's work habits may need renewed structure. Coaches teach clients strategies that help them minimize or eliminate distractions and reduce multitasking while they work.

3-removebg-preview-1
Prioritization

Our coaches teach prioritization by helping clients set realistic goals and prioritize tasks based on importance and urgency.

3-removebg-preview-1
Stress Management

Our coaches approach problems around impulsivity as a sign that a client may benefit from working on their self-regulation skills. Depending on the level of stress, coaches can provide a customized intervention that may focus on teaching clients to recognize stress-inducing scenarios.

3-removebg-preview-1
Task Initiation

At times, even successful, high-achieving individuals may struggle to begin a difficult or less-than-exciting task. However, when this becomes a regular habit - one that leads to last-minute scrambles, time-wasting, stress, and missed opportunities - it can have serious consequences on our academic and personal lives. 

Interested In Coaching For Adults?

WorkSmart Coaching is a division of Beyond BookSmart that specializes in adult coaching.

WorkSmart coaches have master’s degrees or higher and have a track record of success working with adults like you. Many also have experience working as educators or therapists. In other words, they've dedicated their professional lives to helping people learn, grow, and be their very best.

Have Questions? We've Got Answers.

Whether this is your first time hearing the term “Executive Function Coaching” or you are looking to get your student started today, review some of our most frequently asked questions to learn more about our methodology and approach.