How to stop procrastinating at work: 16 ways to get unstuck

The Unstuckifier: sixteen free tools to get you moving

Procrastinating on something that matters? Sixteen practical tools for leaders who know exactly what to do, and aren’t doing it.

It’s 3pm. I’m writing a proposal for a client, sitting at my computer, my third coffee going cold, and I’m still staring at a blank screen.

I promised it by the end of the day. I’ve got to pick up the kids at 5:30. I’ll be up late tonight, and I still haven’t started.

I know how to write a proposal. That’s what makes it so maddening. If you’ve had an afternoon like that, this is the guide I wish I’d had: sixteen practical tools for leaders who know exactly what to do, and aren’t doing it.

Procrastinating at work usually has a specific cause. Once you can name it, you can fix it.

Why you’re stuck

Every time you get stuck, one of three things has dropped to zero:

Clarity. The task is shapeless, with no visible first step and no clear idea of what done looks like. Your brain won’t start what it can’t see the beginning of.
Energy. The tank is empty, or the task drains it before you start. The will is there. The fuel isn’t.
Commitment. Everything in you argues for one more check, one more conversation, one more day. It feels like diligence. It works like avoidance.

The three multiply together: Clarity × Energy × Commitment = Momentum. If any one drops to zero, the others can’t make up for it. You don’t need all three to be perfect, just none of them to be missing.

So name the one that’s missing, and pick a tool from that group. Once you’re moving, the fourth group helps you keep going.

The sixteen tools

Clarity: I don’t know where to start

Name the outcome
Immediate next action
Write it badly
Break it down

Energy: I know what to do, but I can’t face it

Get a quick win
Move your body
Change the scene
Make it fun

Commitment: I keep finding reasons to wait

Embrace ambiguity
Make it reversible
Done beats perfect
Burn the boats

Momentum: I started, but I keep stopping

Remove the exits
Work in sprints
Protect the run
Build a bridge

Inside the guide

Flick through all 32 pages: why you get stuck, how to use each of the sixteen tools, and how to keep moving once you’ve started.

What people say

I’ll be using it. Looks really strong
“The framing really lands — especially that trying harder isn’t the answer anymore, and that you need all three factors to be non-zero, not perfect.”
— Former Group Product Manager, Google

Wow, it’s really inspiring
“I LOVE it - it’s so easy to read, so obviously workable, and your diagrams are perfect — they stick in the mind and explain the issue accurately, and are funny into the bargain!”
— My Mum