213: How to Stop Procrastinating Right Now: Turn 'I'll Do It Tomorrow' Into Immediate Action

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How to Stop Procrastinating Right Now: Turn 'I'll Do It Tomorrow' Into Immediate Action

Tired of telling yourself "I'll do it tomorrow" while important business tasks pile up? Procrastination isn't about laziness - it's about having the wrong mindset tools. In this episode of The Overwhelmed Entrepreneur, Cindy Gordon reveals why your brain says "I'll do it tomorrow" and shares her Instant Action Mindset Method for turning procrastination into immediate momentum.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why procrastination is an emotional regulation issue disguised as a productivity problem
• The neuroscience behind why thinking about challenging tasks activates your brain's pain centers
• How "I'll do it tomorrow" is actually your brain's attempt to avoid emotional discomfort
• The Reality Check Pause that helps you identify what you're really avoiding
• The Two-Minute Truth Test that breaks through catastrophic thinking
• How to use micro-actions to trick your brain into starting without completion pressure
• The 2-minute rule that removes the barrier of perfectionism

Perfect for: Female entrepreneurs who struggle with procrastination on important business tasks, business owners who avoid challenging projects, overwhelmed professionals tired of the "I'll do it tomorrow" cycle, and anyone ready to turn avoidance into immediate action.

Episode Highlights: "Procrastination isn't about being lazy or lacking willpower. It's about having the wrong mindset tools for the job."

"The anticipation of doing the task is almost always worse than actually doing it."

"You don't need more willpower to stop procrastinating. You need mindset tools that help you move through discomfort instead of avoiding it."

Resources mentioned:

• The Reality Check Method
• Instant Action Mindset Method
• ExclusivelyCindy.com
• @exclusivelycindy

Stop saying "I'll do it tomorrow." Start taking action on what matters today.

💡 Don't forget to subscribe for more quick productivity tips for overwhelmed business owners and female entrepreneurs!

💌 Get exclusive overwhelm solutions and productivity strategies for entrepreneurs straight to your inbox - sign up now! https://cindygordon.myflodesk.com/countmein

Connect with Cindy Gordon - Reality Check Method Coach for Overwhelmed Entrepreneurs:

• Website: ExclusivelyCindy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exclusivelycindy/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cindygordon

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Let me guess what happened lastweek.
You had that important tasksitting on your list.
Maybe it was updating yourwebsite, reaching out to a
potential client, or finallyrecording that course video.
You knew it mattered, you hadgood intentions, but somehow
Thursday rolled around and youfound yourself saying those four
familiar words.

(00:20):
I'll do it tomorrow.
Sound familiar?
You're definitely not alone, andmore importantly, you are not
broken.
Hi, I'm Cindy Gordon, thecreator of the Reality Check
Method, and a business coach foroverwhelmed entrepreneurs.
I've built and sold multipledigital businesses, and I have
coached women through this exactpattern.
Here's what I've learned.

(00:40):
Procrastination isn't aboutbeing lazy or lacking willpower.
It's about having the wrongmindset, tools for the job.
Today I'm sharing the mindsetshift that helped me turn.
I'll do it tomorrow into, let'sknock this thing out right now
if you want my framework forbeating procrastination, plus

(01:01):
weekly tips that over 1400entrepreneurs use to stay
motivated and take action.
Then you need to get on my emaillist link in the show notes.
So here's what's probablyhappening in your
entrepreneurial life.
You start the day with genuineintentions to tackle that
important project, but then theeasier tasks call your name, you

(01:23):
check your email, respond tomessages, organize your desk,
anything that feels productive,but doesn't require you to face
the thing that actually matters.
by afternoon, you're tired fromall the busy work and that
important task starts feelingeven more overwhelming.
So you tell yourself, I'll befresh tomorrow morning and
tackle it then.
But tomorrow morning brings itsown urgent distractions and the

(01:46):
cycle repeats.
You're not avoiding work.
You are avoiding the discomfortthat comes with uncertain or
challenging tasks.
Your brain has learned that theI'll do it tomorrow provides
immediate relief from thatdiscomfort, but it never
actually solves the problem.
The truth is procrastinationisn't a time management issue.
It's an emotional regulationissue.

(02:08):
Disguised as a productivityproblem.
Here's something fascinatingabout how our brains work.
When we think about doing achallenging task, our brain
activates the same pain centersthat fire when we experience
physical discomfort.
So your brain literallyinterprets important projects as
a threat to avoid and not anopportunity to pursue.

(02:29):
Add that to the entrepreneurreality.
Most of the tasks that matterthe most in your business, like
creating content, salesconversations, or strategic
planning, involve uncertaintyand potential failure.
Your brain much prefers thepredictable discomfort of busy
work to the unknown discomfortof meaningful work.
But here's the reality checkthat your brain needs.

(02:52):
The anticipation of doing thetask is almost always worse than
actually doing it.
That's because your brain isdesigned to imagine worst case
scenarios to keep you safe.
But it's terrible at predictinghow you'll actually feel when
you are in action mode.
The key to understanding thatI'll do it tomorrow isn't
procrastination.
It's actually your brain'sattempt to regulate the

(03:13):
emotional discomfort ofuncertainty.
Once you understand this, youcan use mindset tools to shift
from avoidance to immediateaction.
So here's how to turn the, I'lldo it tomorrow thought into,
let's knock this out right now.
The first thing you're gonna dois take a reality check, pause
the moment you catch yourselfthinking I'll do it tomorrow.

(03:35):
I want you to pause and askyourself this question.
What am I actually avoidingright now?
The task itself or the feelingthat the task might create.
Usually you're avoidingpotential failure, judgment, or
discomfort of not knowingexactly how something will turn
out.
Name the real fear, because youcan't shift what you don't

(03:55):
acknowledge.
Step two is the two minute truthtest.
Ask yourself, if I spent twominutes on this task right now,
what's the worst that couldrealistically happen?
Not the catastrophic story yourbrain creates, but the actual
realistic outcome.
Usually the worst case is thatyou make some progress and you

(04:15):
learn something about what youneed to do next.
That's not scary.
That's useful information.
The final step is the immediatemicro action.
Instead of committing tofinishing the entire task,
commit to the smallest possiblestep that you can take in the
next five minutes.
Open the document.
Write one paragraph, make onephone call, send one email.

(04:38):
I think you get the idea.
The goal isn't completion.
It's momentum when you start.
Once you start, your brain oftenrealizes the task isn't as
threatening as it predicted, andyou naturally want to continue.
So let me give you somepractical steps to make this
work in your everyday life.
First, create what I call amicro action list for your most

(05:01):
avoided tasks.
Instead of update website, Iwant you to write, change the
headline on the homepage.
Instead of writing, createmarketing strategy.
Write down, brainstorm threecontent ideas.
The more specific and smalleraction, the less your brain will
object.
Second, use that two minuterule.

(05:21):
Strategically tell yourself ifyou only have to work on the
avoided task for two minutes,then you stop guilt free.
This removes the pressure ofcompletion and tricks your brain
into starting.
Most of the time, you'll findyourself continuing past those
few minutes because starting wasthe only real barrier.
And finally, celebrate yourmicro progress immediately.

(05:43):
Don't wait until the project isfinished to acknowledge your
effort.
The moment that you take actionon a previously avoided task is
recognized as a win.
This trains your brain toassociate action with positive
feelings instead of stress andoverwhelm.
Here's what I want you toremember.
Procrastination isn't acharacter flaw that disqualifies
you from entrepreneurialsuccess.

(06:05):
It's just your brain trying toprotect you from discomfort, but
it's using outdated survivalstrategies that don't serve your
business growth.
You don't need more willpower,better time management, or
perfect conditions to stopprocrastinating.
You need mindset tools to helpyou move through discomfort
instead of avoiding it.
When you understand that, I'lldo it tomorrow is just a fear.

(06:28):
In disguise, you can chooseimmediate action.
Instead, your business needs youto stop negotiating with
discomfort and start creatingdespite it every time you
choose.
Let's knock this out right nowover.
I'll do it tomorrow.
You are literally rewiring yourbrain for success.
This instant action approach tobeating procrastination is

(06:51):
important because when you stoprunning from discomfort and
start moving through it,everything becomes.
Possible.
If you want more strategies forturning procrastination into
immediate action, follow me atexclusively Cindy on Instagram
for reality checks that actuallywork.
Now, go choose one thing thatyou've been avoiding and take

(07:12):
the smallest possible step on ittoday.
And remember, friend, you've gotthis, Thanks for spending these
few minutes with me today.
Remember, overwhelm isn'tpermanent.
It's simply your brain's way ofsaying pause and take a little
reality check.
If this was helpful, you'll lovemy weekly email tips where I
share the systems that keep meand hundreds of other

(07:34):
entrepreneurs on Track Link inthe show notes.
If you got value in today'sepisode, please share it with
another entrepreneur who needsthat reminder.
If you're loving the show, I'dbe so grateful if you could
leave me a quick review.
It helps other overwhelmedentrepreneurs find us.
Make sure you hit subscribe soyou never miss your weekly dose
of clarity.
For more resources and toconnect with me, visit

(07:56):
exclusively cindy.com.
Until next time, remember you'vegot this.