How to Stop Procrastinating and Actually Start the Thing (Even If It’s Not Perfect)
If Waiting for “The Right Time” Was a Sport, I’d Be an Olympic Athlete
I used to believe that starting something new required the perfect conditions.
I needed to feel ready.
I needed more time.
I needed the plan to be flawless.
So, instead of starting, I’d spend weeks (months... years?) preparing.
Overthinking.
Telling myself I’d begin when I had all the answers.
But guess what? That moment never came.
Because waiting until you “feel ready” is just another form of procrastination. And some sort of fear hiding behind perfectionism.
If you’ve been stuck waiting to start… whether it’s a business, a project, a personal goal, or literally anything that matters to you, here’s how to finally stop procrastinating and actually do the thing.
Step 1: Call Out Your Excuses (Because That’s What They Are)
Procrastination doesn’t always look like scrolling TikTok or deep-cleaning your house instead of doing work. (Although, guilty.)
Sometimes, it feels productive (like “researching” for weeks instead of taking action). Or convincing yourself you need more training, more time, more preparation before you begin.
The Lies We Tell Ourselves About Starting:
🚫 "I need to be 100% ready first." (Cool. Let me know when the ‘perfect conditions’ fairy shows up.)
🚫 "I just need to do a little more research." (Ah yes, the classic ‘I’ll start after I watch just one more how-to video’ lie.)
🚫 "What if it’s not perfect?" (It won’t be. Start anyway.)
The truth is that the only way to feel ready is to start.
Step 2: Lower the Bar (Because Perfectionism is the Enemy of Progress)
If you’re procrastinating, it’s probably because you’ve made the task feel way bigger than it actually is.
So, instead of trying to “launch the business” or “write the book” or “get healthy”, break it down into one ridiculously small step you can take right now.
✨ Want to start a business? Open a Google Doc and jot down rough ideas.
✨ Want to write a book? Write one messy paragraph.
✨ Want to get back to working out? Do 10 squats in your living room.
Not tomorrow. Not next Monday. Right now.
Because once you start, you build momentum. And once you have momentum? The hard part is over.
Step 3: Set a Timer and Just Start
If you’re still feeling stuck, give yourself a 10-minute challenge.
⏳ Set a timer for 10 minutes.
📝 Start the thing. (Write, plan, move, research, whatever.)
🚀 When the timer goes off, decide if you want to keep going.
Most of the time you will. Because getting started is the hardest part.
And once you break the “I can’t start” barrier, you realize you can keep going.
(Worst case you stopped procrastinating for 10 minutes. Which is still a win.)
Step 4: Accept That Your First Attempt Will Be Messy
The first draft of anything? Ugly. The first version of your business? Clunky. The first attempt at a new habit? Awkward.
Oh, and it can be soooo uncomfortable.
And that’s normal.
Perfectionists struggle to start because we assume everything needs to be great from day one. But nothing works like that.
You know what doesn’t require perfection? Literally anything you’ve ever seen on Pinterest.
You pin the “easy DIY project,” and suddenly you’re knee-deep in a disaster that looks nothing like the tutorial. And guess what? You still tried.
So if you can survive a failed Pinterest craft, you can start your thing—even if it’s messy at first.
So just accept the fact that:
🔹 Your first blog post won’t be your best.
🔹 Your first workout won’t be your strongest.
🔹 Your first launch, project, or creative work won’t be your masterpiece.
And yet? It’s still better than never starting at all.
Step 5: Build a Habit of Starting Before You Feel Ready
If you only take action when you feel motivated, you’ll stay stuck.
But here’s the thing… there’s a difference between resting and procrastinating.
Resting = intentional. It’s choosing to pause because your body and mind need it.
Procrastinating = avoidance. It’s pushing something off because fear, perfectionism, or overwhelm are running the show.
Your job is to know the difference.
✨ Feeling overwhelmed? Do one tiny step. (Not the whole thing. Just a step.)
✨ Feeling like you don’t have enough time? Give it 10 minutes. (Progress, not perfection.)
✨ Feeling like it’s not perfect yet? Good. That means you’re starting.
If you genuinely need rest, take it.
But if you’re waiting for the ‘perfect moment’ to begin? That’s procrastination in disguise. And the more you build the habit of starting anyway, the easier it gets.
Start now. Fix it later.
And if all else fails, just tell yourself it’s a ‘soft launch.’
The perfect moment isn’t coming.
The fear won’t disappear before you begin.
The only way to feel ready is to start.
So, stop waiting. Do the thing.
And when in doubt? Set a timer, take a deep breath, and begin—messy, imperfect, and completely unstoppable.
Break first. Bloom later. Start messy.
🌿 Kris
