One in five of us are chronic procrastinators. So, how can we start building healthier, sustainable routines, and make housework a breeze?

Do you ever find yourself putting housework off until the last minute? Maybe you promise yourself, ‘I’ll do that in a minute – just one more episode’ or ‘Just five more minutes on TikTok, then I’ll get started’. When it comes to monotomous tasks or things that we really don’t want to do like household chores, it can feel even harder to get started. 

When we choose to put things off without a good reason – or keep doing so even knowing there might be negative consequences – that’s procrastinating. But why do we do it, and how can we stop?

Why do we procrastinate?

We all procrastinate from time to time. Research has shown 20% of us feel we are chronic procrastinators. While distraction and overwhelm are two of the most common causes, the reasons why we procrastinate can vary greatly from person to person. Maybe you think things will all work out in the end or feel overloaded and aren’t sure where to start. If you struggle with perfectionism, you may find yourself struggling to start (or finish) tasks due to your own high standards, or maybe you struggle to engage with doing things you find boring. 

Knowing why you procrastinate can be a helpful first step in figuring out the best method to help you stop procrastinating and get things back on track. The longer you spend putting things off or worrying about getting started, the longer tasks take, and the less free time you have to do things that you really want.

How to stop putting off housework

Putting off household chores is a common kind of procrastination. No matter how many times you wash the dishes or load the dishwasher, do a load of laundry, or tidy up the living room, there always seems to be more to be done. Over time, it can be tempting to put things off just a little bit longer – if the washing is going to pile up anyway, does it really matter if you wait another day? And you can always just get clothes out of the clean laundry pile without folding everything neatly…

Reevaluating how you view household tasks – and how you approach them – can be a big help. Here are five quick ways to help you get started with housework, and start building a more sustainable routine.

1. Trying to keep on top of housework can help you to avoid ‘chore creep’. Chore creep is when so many little things pile up, that it feels overwhelming to even get started. By trying to keep on top of housework, you can also ensure that your free time in the evenings and weekends is actually free. When we know we are procrastinating and putting off things (whether it’s something big or small), that can creep into what should be our time to relax and have fun. 

2. Pick just one thing to focus on at a time. This can help you to feel less overwhelmed. Or if things have built up, set yourself a time limit – just 15 or 30 minutes – to see how much you can get done. You’ll be surprised at how quickly those little bursts of time make a difference (and you may even find yourself motivated to keep going until you finish just one more task). Using methods such as the Pomodoro technique, where you set a timer for 25 minutes and then take a five-minute break, can also be a great motivator. 

3. Prioritise. Prioritise. Prioritise. While working on a few quick wins can be a great way to boost your motivation and get kickstarted, it’s important to still work on those big priorities. If you keep putting off the bigger, less pleasant, or trickier tasks, they will only get worse over time – and may leave you even more reluctant to start. Taking time to make a quick list of what needs to be done, then prioritising what needs to be done first can be a big help. Giving yourself quick wins to break up bigger tasks can still be a great idea if you struggle with motivation, but sticking only to quick wins won’t help you get everything done.

4. Aim for better, not perfect. Cleaning, tidying, and keeping on top of household chores can feel like a never-ending cycle – which means it can feel impossible to get everything done perfectly. Aiming for progress over perfection can help to take some of the pressure off and help you to feel less overwhelmed when getting started.

5. Make a schedule (and stick to it). If overwhelm is one of the main things holding you back from housework, making a schedule can help things to feel more manageable. Having set days for certain tasks can help to break down bigger workloads into more manageable chunks, while encouraging you to work on things in order of importance (rather than giving in to the temptation to just do the easiest or quickest chore on your list). 

Working with a professional for procrastination

If you find yourself still struggling to overcome procrastination, there are a number of different ways professionals can help you to overcome procrastination and stop procrastinating for good.

Working with a hypnotherapist for procrastination can help you to learn healthier coping mechanisms for dealing with stress, anxiety, and perfectionist tendencies. A hypnotherapist can help you to create new habits, learn new ways of recognising when you are slipping into bad habits, and to focus on making positive, sustainable changes. 

A life coach can help you to identify the root causes of why you procrastinate, help you to set, visualise, and achieve your end goals. They can also help give you a little push in the right direction when it comes to seeing the positive ways you are productive and hard-working, but may not see the progress you’re already making.