How to DEFEAT Procrastination Once and For All – The Tactical Rule of Three

Let me ask you some very important questions. What is something that you are putting off in your life right now? Maybe it's getting healthy. Maybe it's growing your business. Maybe it's cold outreach. Just think about it.

Here's my next question for you. Why are you putting it off? Maybe because you keep making excuses. Or maybe it's because you got so much going on with this other stuff. I want you to know, no matter what your answer is, it's wrong. Not you're wrong, but the excuse is wrong.

Here's the reason you are procrastinating. Here's the reason you're putting things off. You put things off because you can. You put things off because you are allowed to. In today's world, we are more blessed and more abundant than ever before. If I want light, I flick a switch. If I want entertainment, I hit a button. If I want food, three clicks on my phone and I got Postmates delivering food. 

We are living in what I call an “Age of the Tyranny of Comfort”. It is way too comfortable in my life and in your life right now too.

Let me give you an example. It's 7:00 PM. You know you should be working, you know you should be getting stuff done. But you keep thinking about food in the kitchen, the lights are on, there’s a roof over your head. You got friends you're texting with and it's so easy to just hit Netflix and watch Stranger Things. 

Life is too comfortable and with that comfort, we become soft. And with that comfort, we become seduced by its siren song, by its pull. So if you're procrastinating your life, it is because you can. So what is the solution here? 

The solution is very, very simple. It's very tactical. I want to share it with you.

We call it the rule of three. Here's what I want you to do. The next time you find yourself procrastinating, which probably is going to be today. All you need to do is when you think, “I don't feel like doing this thing. I'm putting it off until tomorrow. I know I should keep going to the gym” or whatever it may be, don't get down on yourself. Don't beat yourself up. 

Just acknowledge the fact that you are procrastinating. That's step one; awareness and acceptance, always step one.

Once you have that, you’re going to implement the rule of three. All you need to do is three small things towards what is it you’re procrastinating. After you do these three tiny things, if you want to continue procrastinating, suit yourself. But if after you do these three small things, if you want to actually keep going, then you will keep going.

I'll give you an example. Let's say I need to write some copy, like write a script for a video or a webinar or something like that. Let's say it's 2,500 words and I'm putting it off. Here's the three small things I'm going to do. 

First, I’m going to open up my laptop; second, I'm going to open up Microsoft Word; and, third, I’m going to write a hundred words. That's it. Just a hundred words and if I don't want to keep going at that point, I won't. But if I want to write a hundred words, then I will continue that. I will at least leave myself open to that possibility because I like myself.

Here’s the secret about this trick. Three small wins = momentum.

It is momentum that is the antidote to procrastination. You don't beat procrastination by saying, "I'm not going to procrastinate any more. I'm done." That's not how it works. That is akin to checkers on the ocean. You can't push a string. You pull it.

So we beat procrastination with momentum. Momentum is easy. Momentum is smooth. Momentum is when you feel like you have energy, you're focused, you're in the zone. You're not thinking about why you're not doing it. You're not thinking about things that aren't necessarily relevant, you're just focused, you're in that flow, you’re rocking it. That is the momentum state, one of the best states that anyone can be in at any time.

So a lot of people have trouble getting into momentum. But now, you have the formula, three small wins. That's it. That's all it takes. I don't know if I can make this any more practical for you. Three small wins = momentum. 

After I opened that laptop, opened Microsoft Word and wrote a hundred words, guess what? The act of writing a hundred words puts me in a state to want to write more. This is inertia. Inertia from physics states that an object in motion tends to stay in motion. Object not in motion, tends to stay not in motion.

When you're procrastinating, you're probably not doing anything. You are not in motion. Therefore, inertia states you will continue to not be in motion. But if we get you in motion just a little bit with three small wins, you are setting in motion and you've got the confidence because small wins build confidence. 

In that state, you're starting to get the juices flowing. You're starting to get warmed up. You're starting to feel good. You're starting to feel like you have momentum on your side. So the rule of three is the ultimate antidote to procrastination. 

What's going to happen as you implement this is you're going to start to turn it into a micro-habit. Every time you feel procrastinating over the next day or week or month, you're going to remember this moment, and you're going to remember the rule of three. You're going to implement it. You're going to play this game.

So, you'll do it, then you'll take action and you'll start building this muscle of momentum and you will find yourself far less in the procrastination state and far more in a state of momentum. It's going to become part of your default setting and there might be nothing more important to your success in your business, your life, in your relationships. 

The simple little rule can truly change your life and I hope that you let it. Don't be one of those people who reads this, understands the principle, the philosophy and the tactic perfectly, and then goes back and procrastinates. 

Your mission is more important. Your goals are more important. The person you are destined to become is more important. You will never become that person if you continue to procrastinate in all of these crucial areas in your life.

We get one shot at this life. One shot to do the best we can to create the tapestry that we want and every day you don't take action in the direction of your dreams is a day that you have wasted. It is a day you have disrespected your promise and your potential and that is not who you are.

So there’s some tough love from me at the end of this, but I just have so much faith in you, I have so much belief in you and frankly us, the world. We need you at your best. We need you moving confidently in the direction of your dreams because whatever you've been put here to do, whatever genius, master level work you've been put here to create, I assure you it's going to help society. It's going to help all of us so we need it and we need you.

Talk soon.

- Jason Capital

Recognized Top 100 Entrepreneur By The White House

Best-Selling Author, Guest Contributor To Forbes, CNBC, Entrepreneur