We’ve all been there – that nagging feeling of something you know you need to do, but keep putting off. Procrastination is something everyone struggles with, but lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to beat it. The best way I’ve found is by talking myself through it.

One of the most impactful realizations I’ve had is what I call the Double Misery — first, the misery of dreading the task, and then the misery of actually doing it. Why add that extra layer of misery to your life? I realized that avoiding tasks only adds unnecessary stress.

To break this cycle, I started timing how long it takes to complete the tasks I dread. Take bookkeeping, for example — I hate entering my data into QuickBooks. But here’s the thing: when I stay on top of it every week, it only takes about 10 minutes. If I put it off until the end of the year, not only do I have to spend way more time doing it, but I also have to live with the dread of it piling up. That’s time wasted on dreading and doing the task.

Here’s what works for me: when I catch myself procrastinating, I calculate how much time it will take to complete the task now versus how much time (and mental energy) it will take if I keep putting it off. By forcing myself to look at the total cost of procrastination, I’m able to push myself to just get it done.

Procrastination is unnecessary and completely avoidable if you change your mindset. So, next time you find yourself dreading a task, try this method: think about how much time you’ll save by completing it now, and eliminate that double misery from your life.

Do you have any other tricks for avoiding procrastination? Drop your tips in the comments – I’m always open to new ideas!