Quotes & Sayings About Procrastination

If we screw it up, start over. Try something else. — Lee Iacocca

She felt weary and careworn, in the way one often does before the big job of work is tackled; that sense of premature or projected exhaustion that is the breeding ground of all procrastination. — William Boyd

The scary thing is, the more I slack off, the more it piles up and the more it piles up, the more I slack off. — Amelia Mysko

- I should be doing my homework now. But the way I look at it, playing in the snow is a lot more important. Out here I'm learning real skills that I can apply throughout the rest of my life.
- Such as?
- Procrastination and rationalization. — Bill Watterson

Don't put off for tomorrow what you should do today. — Aesop

Life always begins with one step outside of your comfort zone. — Shannon L. Alder

Identifying Your Dream
Some people can easily identify one primary dream. For others, a dream is more elusive. These people often have many dreams at once, or a general idea of a dream that never takes a specific shape. — SARK

Peace is more than a lofty ideal. It is a practical principle that, with conscious effort, can become a normal part of our lives as we deal with matters both large and small. One habit that prevents inner peace is procrastination. It clutters our minds with unfinished business and makes us uneasy until we finish a task and get it out of the way. — Joseph B. Wirthlin

When the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in. — Andrew Jackson

God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination. — Augustine Of Hippo

Your 'frog' should be the most difficult item on your things-to-do list, the one where you're most likely to procrastinate; because, if you eat that first, it'll give you energy and momentum for the rest of the day. — Brian Tracy

Since procrastination is a message from our natural willpower via low motivation, the cure is changing the environment, or one's profession, by selecting one in which one does not have to fight one's impulses. Few can grasp the logical consequence that, instead, one should lead a life in which procrastination is good, as a naturalistic-risk-based form of decision making. — Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Procrastination is, hands down, our favorite form of self-sabotage. — Alyce Cornyn-Selby

Putting off an easy thing makes it hard. Putting off a hard thing makes it impossible. — George C. Lorimer

To lead from the front you must get off your behind. — Orrin Woodward

Don't put off until tomorrow what can be done today. Procrastination is a sign of weak character. — Carol Cox

If something is worth doing right, it is worth doing right now. — Wes Fesler

MEDIOCRITY IS A CHOICE... PROCRASTINATION IS A VIRUS THE FIRST ERROR IS INDECISION — Marsha Wright

Nothing separates the generations more than music. By the time a child is eight or nine, he has developed a passion for his own music that is even stronger than his passions for procrastination and weird clothes. — Bill Cosby

It sometimes seems that we live as if we wonder when life is going to begin. It isn't always clear just what we are waiting for, but some of us sometimes persist in waiting so long that life slips by - finding us still waiting for something that has been going on all the time ... This is the life in which the work of this life is to be done. Today is as much a part of eternity as any day a thousand years ago or as will be any day a thousand years hence. This is it, whether we are thrilled or disappointed, busy or bored! This is life, and it is passing. — Richard L. Evans

Procrastination is a way for us to be satisfied with second-rate results; we can always tell ourselves we'd have done a better job if only we had more time...If you're good at rationalizing, you can keep yourself feeling rather satisfied this way, but it's a cheap happy. You're whittling your expectations of yourself down lower and lower. — Richard O'Connor

The secret of a full life is to live and relate to others as if they might not be there tomorrow, as if you might not be there tomorrow. It eliminates the vice of procrastination, the sin of postponement, failed communications, failed communions. This thought has made me more and more attentive to all encounters. meetings, introductions, which might contain the seed of depth that might be carelessly overlooked. This feeling has become a rarity, and rarer every day now that we have reached a hastier and more superficial rhythm, now that we believe we are in touch with a greater amount of people, more people, more countries. This is the illusion which might cheat us of being in touch deeply with the one breathing next to us. The dangerous time when mechanical voices, radios, telephones, take the place of human intimacies, and the concept of being in touch with millions brings a greater and greater poverty in intimacy and human vision. — Anais Nin

we have a plastic brain that changes in response to our experience. It bears repeating: The brain doesn't tell us what to do; it is part of a system in which our life experience teaches our brain what to do. So you can practice mindfulness, will power, overcoming procrastination, and other healthy new skills with the confidence that you are changing your brain. Each day's practice does some good, and if you slip and fall off your diet or exercise program or mindfulness practice, all that you have learned before is not undone; it's still there in your brain waiting for you to get back in the saddle. — Richard O'Connor

I think I'm going to skip all of my classes today because I need a "me" day. The problem with "me" days is that I need them four times a week. The problem with me is that I'm very smart and very capable (or so I've been told) but my laziness hinders me. Laziness. They forgot to add procrastination, self-destruction, and the inability to leave my bed to the list. The problem with me is that I've dealt with this before but have no idea what to do next. I should email my past teachers and ask them what I did after I sent them messages excusing my week-long absences from class due to "personal reasons." I should stop scratching my hand in case my mom asks me if I'm okay again. I am okay. I am doing fine. But I have an itch that I cannot place, an itch that changes locations when my fingers find it. The problem with me is that I will focus on it completely until it goes away. The problem with this feeling is that it never goes away. It has always been one large itch that I cannot place. — Lora Mathis

Procrastination is suicide on the installment plan. — Arnold Bennett

The habit of always putting off an experience until you can afford it, or until the time is right, or until you know how to do it is one of the greatest burglars of joy. Be deliberate, but once you've made up your mind -jump in. — Charles R. Swindoll

Procrastination, the opposite of decision, is a common enemy which practically everyone must conquer. — Napoleon Hill

It's always been important for writers to be disciplined but now even more so. In addition to the traditional displacement activities like cleaning the fridge or eating cake writers are faced with a plethora of online possibilities (some of which may be professionally worthwhile as well as interesting and fun). As a writer it's important to learn how to focus so you can do both as and when you need to. — Sara Sheridan

Doing things at the last minute reminds us of the importance of doing things at the first minute. — Matshona Dhliwayo

I get my best writing done when I'm supposed to be doing something else entirely. And that's why I keep my day job. — Joyce Rachelle

Excellence can be achieved only today - not yesterday or tomorrow, because they do not exist in the present moment. Today is the only day you have to flex your talents and maximize your enjoyment. Your challenge is to win in all aspects of life. To reach that goal, you need to set yourself up for success by winning one day at a time. Procrastination is no match for a champion. — Jim Afremow

procrastination in the face of poor performance is a fool's remedy. — Marcus Buckingham

What would you think of an engineer who expounded the art of flying without revealing the secrets of the engine and propeller? That's what you do, you engineer of the human soul. Just that. You're a coward. You want the raisins out of my cake but you don't want the thorns of my roses. Haven't you too, little psychiatrist, been cracking silly jokes about me? Haven't you ridiculed me as "the prophet of bigger and better orgasms"? Have you never heard the whimpering of a young wife whose body has been desecrated by an impotent husband? Or the anguished cry of an adolescent bursting with unfulfilled love? Does your security still mean more to you than your patient? How long will you go on valuing your respectability above your medical mission? How long will you refuse to see that your pussyfooting procrastination is costing millions their lives? — Wilhelm Reich

Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried. — Alyce Cornyn-Selby

Prudence is not hesitation, procrastination, or moderation. It is not driving in the middle of the road. It is not the way of ambivalence, indecision, or safety. — John Ortberg

We can be of so much service to others in many thou-shalt ways. Of course, the problem is that rendering such service takes time, and we are all so busy. Some situations may call for service that somehow seems to be beneath us. Besides, we have other things to do. The thou shalts are so convenient to put off. Who will notice the procrastination anyway? After all, we are not robbing a bank. Or are there forms of withholding that constitute stealing? — Neal A. Maxwell

Do not say, 'When I have leisure, I will study,' because you may never have leisure. — Hillel The Elder

I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness. — Denzel Washington

Listen, you are no longer a boy. You are forty. When will you learn not to wait for chance but to build on what you have and use each day to consolidate your position? Why have you never been anything more than Tribune? Because your plans always begin with next month. — Thorton Wilder

Who waits until circumstances completely favor his undertaking, will never accomplish anything. — Martin Luther

Imagine what your life would be like if you were completely uninhibited by fear, pride, or procrastination. What would you be capable of? Anything. — Richie Norton

Somedays you're the cue ball, somedays you are the eight ball — Pablo

If you learn to Master Procrastination, it would astound you as to how much you are able to accomplish. — Sheldon D. Newton

Habitual procrastinators will readily testify to all the lost opportunities, missed deadlines, failed relationships and even monetary losses incurred just because of one nasty habit of putting things off until it is often too late. — Stephen Richards

Procrastination has been a boon to my sobriety. I keep thinking I'd like to go out and get really trashed some night--but not tonight. It's really a variant of "One Step at a Time. — Rob Dinsmoor

Giving up on our long-term goals for immediate gratification, my friends, is procrastination. — Dan Ariely

Never put things off ... you will wake up and find them gone. — James Jones

Procrastination is like masturbation, in the beginning it feels good, but in the end, you're just f***ing yourself! — Michael McCarthy

Good decision-making is like playing chess and you must avoid making hasty decisions without thinking of how that particular decision will impact on different aspects of your work and organization. The worst kind of decision-making is to decide to delay a difficult decision until later or to pass it to someone else to have to make. You will never excel and be valued by your colleagues if you get into these habits of procrastination and passing responsibility to others. — Nigel Cumberland

I have a terrible problem with procrastination ... a friend told me, "Well, you should go to therapy." And I thought about it, but then I said, "Wait a minute. Why should I pay a stranger to listen to me talk when I can get strangers to pay to listen to me talk?" And that's when I got the idea of touring. — Ellen DeGeneres

Nothing is more burdensome than an unfinished task. — Jim Rohn

A Gift for You
I send you ...
The gift of a letter from your wise self. This is the part of you that sees you with benevolent, loving eyes. You find this letter in a thick envelope with your name on it, and the word YES written boldly above your name.
My Dear,
I am writing this to remind you of your 'essence beauty.' This is the part of you that has nothing to do with age, occupation, weight, history, or pain. This is the soft, untouched, indelible you. You can love yourself in this moment, no matter what you have, or haven't done or been.
See past any masks, devices, or inventions that obscure your essence.
Remember your true purpose, WHICH is only Love.
If you cannot see or feel love, lie down now and cry; it will cleanse your vision and free your heart.
I love you; I am you. — SARK

I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow. — Margaret Mitchell

Ughhhhh I'll do it LATERRRRRR — Aisha Cat

Concentration Attention Multitasking Boredom Procrastination — Sharon Salzberg

Our lack of focus is our primary problem and the source of many of our difficulties, like procrastination, trouble setting priorities, trouble dealing with time, trouble finishing projects, perfectionism, and the inevitable demoralization. — Douglas A. Puryear

Never put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well. — Mark Twain

Procrastinate strategically ... Procrastination may be the enemy of productivity but it can be a valuable resource for creativity. — Adam Grant

Procrastination and excuses are sour spices that spoil the sweet taste of an effective work. They must hence, not be prompted under desire, partly because they are strictly time-stripping and also because they have no known essence. — Israelmore Ayivor

Think about the work you already do. Is it meaningful & challenging? Are you appreciated & recognized for what you're doing? — Mani S. Sivasubramanian

Procrastination is "maybe"; certainty is, "I'm ready! — Matshona Dhliwayo

I have spent many days stringing and unstringing my instrument while the song I came to sing remains unsung. — Rabindranath Tagore

Procrastination is the kidnapper of souls, and the recruiting-officer of Hell. — Edward Irving

basis, you may find that it is affecting your daily life because you simply don't get things done. Fortunately, there are a number of habits that you can introduce into your life to stop procrastination. Some of them — Sam Davis

Sometimes procrastination is an action, not inaction. — Jacquelyn Frank

Procrastination and fear are close cousins. — S.B. Sebrick

Do what you know needs to be done. — Lynda A. Calder

If you are always saying I'll do it to tomorrow, than your tomorrow will than turn into another day and so on, and so, etc. etc. — Victoria Addino

For instinct dictates our duty and the intellect supplies us with pretexts for evading it. — Marcel Proust

Procrastination threatens critics' livelihood. — Mokokoma Mokhonoana

To procrastinate seems inherent in man, for if you do to-day that you may enjoy to-morrow it is but deferring the enjoyment; so that to be idle or industrious, vicious or virtuous, is but with a view of procrastinating the one or the other. — Benjamin Haydon

Procrastination isn't the problem. It's the solution. It's the universe's way of saying stop, slow down, you move too fast. — Ellen DeGeneres

Step by step, you make your way forward. That's why practices such as daily writing exercises or keeping a daily blog can be so helpful. You see yourself do the work, which shows you that you can do the work. Progress is reassuring and inspiring; panic and then despair set in when you find yourself getting nothing done day after day. One of the painful ironies of work life is that the anxiety of procrastination often makes people even less likely to buckle down in the future. — Gretchen Rubin

With age, gone are the forevers of youth. Gone is the willingness to procrastinate, delay, to play the waiting game. Now each day is a treasure beyond compare ... because there are so few such diadems left. — Joe L. Wheeler

Everyone who is taken by death asks for more time, while everyone who still has time makes excuses for procrastination. — Ali Ibn Abi Talib

Those who would live beyond their nature-given span lose their framework, and with it lose a proper sense of relationship to those who are younger, gaining only the resentment of youth for encroaching on its careers and resources. The fact that there is a limited right time to do the rewarding things in our lives is what creates the urgency to do them. Otherwise, we might stagnate in procrastination. The very fact that at our backs, as the poet cautions his coy mistress, we "always hear / Time's winged chariot hurrying near" enhances the world and makes the time priceless. — Sherwin B. Nuland

How easy it is to slip.
How hard it is to climb.
How wise it is to keep in step
And never fall behind. — Richelle E. Goodrich

All we have is here and now. That's why procrastination feels so right. Procrastination isn't the problem, it's the solution. — Ellen DeGeneres

Delay leads impotent and snail-paced beggary. — William Shakespeare

Stop killing and wasting time. Get something done today — Sunday Adelaja

Lack of confidence, sometimes alternating with unrealistic dreams of heroic success, often leads to procrastination, and many studies suggest that procrastinators are self-handicappers: rather than risk failure, they prefer to create conditions that make success impossible, a reflex that of course creates a vicious cycle. — James Surowiecki

Create a guidebook of creative dreams
You can use a blank book or just blank paper clipped together. Put photographs or scraps from magazines in that represent your creative dreams. Draw, scribble, or paint in between the images. Make a list of creative dreams you've thought of or admire in others. — SARK

Addiction, self-sabotage, procrastination, laziness, rage, chronic fatigue, and depression are all ways that we withhold our full participation in the program of life we are offered. When the conscious mind cannot find a reason to say no, the unconscious says no in its own way. — Charles Eisenstein

The most pernicious aspect of procrastination is that it can become a habit. We don't just put off our lives today; we put them off till our deathbed. — Steven Pressfield

Procrastination is assassination on the amazing future God has for you. — Perry Noble

Procrastination threatens to rob us of those things that are most important in our lives. — Richie Norton

Think of all the years passed by in which you said to yourself "I'll do it tomorrow," and how the gods have again and again granted you periods of grace of which you have not availed yourself. It is time to realize that you are a member of the Universe, that you are born of Nature itself, and to know that a limit has been set to your time. Use every moment wisely, to perceive your inner refulgence, or 'twill be gone and nevermore within your reach. — Marcus Aurelius

Nothing says work efficiency like panic mode. — Don Roff

It is important to note that a transitional phase has to be uncomfortable for you to move on to the next stage, lest procrastination stymies you. — Innocent Mwatsikesimbe

Distraction and procrastination come in a variety of flavors ... when I'm distracted and I walk over and stare out the window, it's a very different experience than when I feed the distraction by cramming in a few emails or make a phone call. — Linda Stone

Absolutely not. I'm an expert in procrastination, but the last thing I want you to think is that I'm incompetent, too. Because I'm actually pretty good at what I do. -Jo — Nicholas Sparks

Working is one of the most dangerous forms of procrastination. — Gretchen Rubin

If you wait until all the lights are 'green' before you leave home, you'll never get started on your trip to the top. — Zig Ziglar

There will be many times in your lives
at school, and more particularly when you are a grown up
when people will distract or divert you from what needs to be done. You may even welcome the distraction. But if you use it as an excuse for not doing what you suppose to do, you can blame no one but yourself. If you truly wish to accomplish something, you should allow nothing to stop you, and chances are you'll succeed. — Julie Andrews Edwards

You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today. — Abraham Lincoln

procrastination, — George S. Clason

The river was nowhere and everywhere, for he could not decide which of a hundred green lagoons offered the most pleasant and least speedy path to the Gulf. So he traveled them all, and so did we. He divided and rejoined, he twisted and turned, he meandered in awesome jungles, he all but ran in circles, he dallied with lovely groves, he got lost and was glad of it, and so were we. For the last word in procrastination, go travel with a river reluctant to lose his freedom in the sea. — Aldo Leopold

I swing between procrastination and being really thorough so either way things aren't getting done quickly. — Freema Agyeman

The mind of a writer can be a truly terrifying thing. Isolated, neurotic, caffeine-addled, crippled by procrastination, consumed by feelings of panic, self-loathing, and soul-crushing inadequacy. And that's on a good day. — Robert De Niro

Do you write every day?'
'Oh, no. Oh, I sort of try. I don't work very hard, really. Really I'm on vacation. All the time. Or you could say I work all the time, too. It comes to the same thing.' He'd said all this before, to others; he wondered if he'd said it to her. 'It's like weekend homework. Remember? There wasn't ever a time you absolutely had to do it - there was always Saturday, then Sunday - but then there wasn't ever a time when it wasn't there to do, too.'
'How awful.' ("Novelty") — John Crowley