You wait.
You think.
You plan.
You do not start.
Procrastination is not laziness.
It is fear, friction, and fuzzy next steps.
The cure is simple.
Finish tiny.
Finish something so small your brain cannot resist.
A short story
A consultant I coach avoided a weekly report.
Every Friday became a scramble.
We wrote one tiny version.
Three bullet points to start the draft.
Set a ten minute timer.
He shipped a draft by Tuesday.
Fridays became calm.
Why you delay
- The task is vague. No clear “done.”
- The first step is too big.
- You expect perfect.
- You fear feedback.
- Your tools are not ready.
- Your energy is low when you try to start.
Name the blocker.
Shrink the task.
The Finish Tiny Ladder
Use the lowest rung that gets you moving.
- Micro: 60 seconds. Open the file. Write the title.
- Mini: 5 minutes. Add three bullets.
- Small: 10 to 15 minutes. Draft a rough first paragraph or outline.
- Standard: 45 to 90 minutes. A full slice with a clear finish line.
If you stall, drop one rung.
Movement beats size.
The 3-step method
1) Define “done” in one line
“Done means the pricing draft has 5 headlines and one example.”
2) Pick the tiniest first action
“Open doc. Write 5 headlines only.”
3) Protect a tiny block
Ten minutes. Timer on. Start now.
If you finish early, stop or keep going.
Stopping after a win is allowed.
The ten minute start
Set a timer. Do only one thing.
- Write three bullets.
- Read one page and highlight.
- Sketch the outline boxes.
- List data you need.
- Draft the email subject and two lines.
When the timer ends, decide: continue ten more or stop.
No guilt either way.
Make tiny impossible to skip
- Put the file on your desktop.
- Open the doc before bed.
- Add a calendar block named “Tiny start.”
- Use a sticky note with the first verb.
- Keep one template for common tasks.
Templates help
- Email reply shell
- Meeting summary shell
- Report outline with headings
- Slide deck skeleton
Scripts you can tell yourself
- “I only need ten minutes.”
- “Draft now. Improve later.”
- “I can survive one rough version.”
- “Future me will thank me for a small start.”
- “Just open the file.”
If fear is the blocker
Try the Two Truths check.
- Truth 1: “I might get feedback.”
- Truth 2: “I can handle feedback and fix one thing.”
Write the next tiny step. Do it.
If perfection pulls you in
Set a floor, not a ceiling.
- Floor: clear, correct, on time.
- Ceiling can come in V2.
Time box the work. Stop when the timer ends.
If energy is low
Use MVS. Minimum Viable Start.
- Drink water. Stand up.
- Two deep breaths.
- One tiny action for two minutes.
Low energy work
- Sort files.
- Rename slides.
- Gather links.
- Draft bullets without polish.
If distractions win
- Close chat and mail for ten minutes.
- Put your phone in another room.
- Full screen your doc.
- Use a single tab.
- Play white noise if it helps you.
The 2-minute loop sweep
End each hour with a quick sweep.
- Write loose tasks that popped up.
- Park them in one list.
- Return to the tiny step.
Seat belt for your attention.
Accountability that feels light
- Send a tiny promise to a peer.
“I will send a V1 headline list by 10:30.” - Share a screenshot when done.
- Celebrate small wins. One line in chat.
Your tiny start card
Print this and keep it beside you.
- Task:
- Done equals:
- Tiny first action:
- Timer start:
- Timer end:
- Next tiny action:
- Win note: what moved
For managers
- Ask for a tiny deliverable first.
- Praise drafts and learning, not only polish.
- Remove friction. Provide the template.
- Set ten minute kickoffs at the start of focus blocks.
- Share your own tiny starts to model the habit.
For remote teams
- Post a daily “Tiny Finish” thread.
- Use short Looms to show messy drafts.
- Replace long planning with a tiny prototype today.
- Keep decisions in one doc with tiny next steps and dates.
Common traps
- Planning the perfect system instead of starting.
- Waiting for a big block of time that never appears.
- Starting three tasks at once.
- Hiding until it is perfect.
- Beating yourself up for delays.
Choose one trap. Write one tiny counter move.
A seven day reset
Day 1
Pick one important task. Write “done” in one line.
Day 2
Do a micro start. Sixty seconds.
Day 3
Do a mini start. Five minutes.
Day 4
Do a small start. Fifteen minutes.
Day 5
Ship a rough V1. Ask for one comment.
Day 6
Apply one fix. Share again.
Day 7
Write what worked. Keep the tiny start habit.
Tiny action now
Open your current task.
Write the one-line “done.”
Set a ten minute timer.
Do the tiniest first action.
Stop or continue.
Either way, you moved.
The bigger frame
Awareness sees the fear and the friction.
Leadership chooses a kinder start.
Execution finishes tiny and builds momentum.
Small wins compound.
Tomorrow gets easier.
Start tiny. Finish something today.