Although even the most productive people procrastinate, no one likes doing it. There are many reasons you might be procrastinating. Some people can't start a task until the pressure of looming deadlines gets to them; others are so afraid of messing up that they just don't do anything.

Many believe that you must overcome procrastination by using sheer willpower. But most people largely overestimate their self-control. If a task is so off-putting to you—for any reason—that you leave it until the last moment, do you really think you're going to just will yourself into it? Once or twice, sure. But willpower doesn't work in the long run.

To work effectively, you need a system or routine. However, many people avoid them, believing they limit their freedom. And while that is partially true, freedom is your enemy, and rules are necessary to stop procrastinating. Some things that have been scientifically proven to be effective include self-imposed deadlines, working in intervals, and eliminating distractions. You can also try an accountability system, where you commit to reach a particular goal with other people. Moreover, regular exercise and a healthy diet will also help you work more effectively.

However, the most important thing is internal motivation. Even the best system in the world isn't going to help you if you don't have inner drive. Ask yourself a simple question: "Why do you do what you do?" If you can't come up with an answer immediately, take some time to think about it. After all, even the worst tasks become manageable if you know why you need to finish them.