What is one strategy you use to overcome procrastination or lack of motivation at work? How does this approach help you stay productive and engaged?

Question

Discover effective strategies to combat procrastination and enhance motivation in the workplace. This article presents insights from productivity experts, offering practical techniques to boost your professional performance. Learn how to align your work with personal values, leverage innovative methods like body doubling, and structure your day for maximum focus and creativity.

Lisa Jeffs · Answer

There was a point in my work where I became severely unmotivated. I felt as though every day blurred into one. I would just go through the motions, and even those felt heavy. What helped was tuning into my values and assessing which ones were not a part of my day-to-day work. I realized my values of creativity and playfulness were not being utilized. I started making time and creating space for a bit of silliness and creativity. Literally, the same day I felt my motivation to work come back. 
My advice to anyone feeling unmotivated is to assess what your values are and where you can bring more of that into your day-to-day life. Even if you have to create space for it during your breaks. It's common to think that a lack of motivation means you don't want to "do the thing". But often, it's stemming from our deeper needs not being met.

Sandra Bean · Answer

Body doubling is a tried-and-true strategy and one of my favorites.
Often, procrastination is not about a lack of expertise or desire but is a limitation related to executive function. Executive functions are a set of cognitive processes that support goal-directed behavior. There are seven, and one of them is called "task initiation," which simply means getting started on something you need to do.
Poor task initiation is very common and can be a result of many things: from lack of sleep, an environment that makes work challenging, unclear instructions, poor planning, or low interest, all the way to chemical imbalances, neurodivergence, and perfectionism or anxiety. The good news is that body doubling can help with most of these issues. The other person doesn't have to help you or even talk to you; their presence alone is the magic.
Here is how it works:
1. Find a co-worker or friend who also has tasks to work on. Explain what you hope to accomplish with body doubling.2. Agree on a place and time conducive to focus (Zoom works, too).3. When you arrive, check in first with your goals. Your plan, even a loose one, is important, and, as a bonus, it will force you to break down the task into smaller pieces, which can also be helpful.4. Use a structure like the Pomodoro technique or a timer with breaks if it is a longer sprint.5. Share what you accomplished when time is up.
Why does it work? Humans are social creatures, and we tend to mimic others around us, which helps push us into action. Being in the company of another is also regulating, taking us from dread of a task to a calmer state that is more conducive to productivity. And the accountability and motivation of being with a body double partner help, too.
Isn't that just "going to work"? Actually, no. An office can provide some similar benefits, but intentional body doubling is usually more effective. Pressure, interruptions, and socialization common in the office can get in the way of a focused work session. Body doubling is purposefully structured to support focus without the potential downsides of a typical workplace social environment.
Sometimes, one session can be enough to overcome hurdles, and other times, you may need a weekly or even daily routine, but this strategy works very well in my experience.

Alexander De Ridder · Answer

I used to have days filled with back-to-back meetings, leaving no time for the deep, creative work that truly drives innovation. I realized that motivation is a state you must architect by fiercely protecting your time and focus.
My strategy is to split my day and my identity. In the mornings, I wear my "CTO hat." This time is for scheduled meetings, team coordination, and giving guidance. But my afternoons are sacred, meeting-free zones. That's when I put on my "visionary hat."
This distraction-free time is when I can get "in the zone" to strategize, innovate, and build something new. When I created this structure, I stopped having to fight for focus or find motivation. I've designed my day around it. It ensures I'm not just managing the present but actively creating the future.

Neel Parekh · Answer

One strategy that has worked well for me is creating "commitment deadlines" that involve other people—essentially, engineered accountability.
When I'm procrastinating on something (usually because it's either boring or intimidating), I'll set a public deadline or assign a small piece of it to someone on the team. This forces me to get my part done because now someone is waiting on me. It flips the pressure: I'm no longer doing it "when I feel like it," I'm doing it because someone else needs it to move forward. And I hate being the bottleneck.
For example, when I was revamping our franchise onboarding materials, I told our designer I'd have all the copy done by Friday. Boom—no more delay. I had a real deadline that wasn't just in my head.
It's a simple hack, but it works. You create momentum, and once you're in motion, motivation tends to follow. So if you're stuck, loop someone else in. Even a quick Slack message like "I'll get this to you by 3 PM" can flip the switch.

Steve Faulkner · Answer

One strategy I've found helpful when my motivation is low is an exercise I call "reverse recruiting" myself. I imagine I'm a candidate applying for my own role as Chief Recruiter of Spencer James Group. I spend five minutes writing down why I would hire myself today. What strengths do I bring? What value have I created? Then I flip the perspective: what might give me pause about hiring myself?
This quick mental reset helps me zoom out, evaluate my performance objectively, and reconnect with the bigger picture. It not only reignites a sense of purpose but also improves my focus. I come away with a clearer view of what actually matters most that day and what needs my attention versus what can wait. It helps me make sharper decisions and reprioritize my time around the work that drives real results.
It also reactivates the entrepreneurial mindset that got me into this business in the first place. Every day is a fresh chance to build the brand and serve our clients and candidates better, but only if I show up with intention. This strange little ritual grounds me when my motivation dips and helps me re-engage without self-judgment.

Ryan Stone · Answer

After running a business for 15 years, I recently implemented an effective time management strategy that has surprisingly turned out to be quite straightforward: time blocking. Time blocking involves setting aside specific periods of the day for particular tasks or themes.
To get started, I created a spreadsheet with each day divided into 30-minute intervals. During the first few weeks, I frequently adjusted and reprioritized tasks until I found a structure that maximized efficiency. Once I finalized the schedule, I transferred it to my calendar system and set up alerts to keep me on track.
One of the most significant changes I experienced was limiting myself to three short periods a day for checking emails. In the past, I aimed for Inbox Zero in an attempt to be efficient, but this led to a never-ending cycle of email exchanges and made it difficult to disconnect. With time blocking, I now only respond to the most critical communications, allowing me to focus my time and energy on other important aspects of the business.

Molly Hetrick · Answer

A very concrete strategy: at the end of your workday, write down three things you absolutely will get done tomorrow. This provides you with direction and focus to start your next day. When you get into the office tomorrow, your agenda is set - you don't have to choose what your next step will be.
A broader, more comprehensive strategy is to revisit your organization's stated mission. Although you may be far removed from these aspirations, some of what you work on contributes to the organization's higher purpose. Identify what that is and use that to envision how you are making an impact.

Matt Purcell · Answer

When I'm dragging my feet on something, I like to make it a little competition with myself. I'll pick a specific outcome, such as finishing a batch of service reports, and give myself a time limit to beat. It turns a boring task into something with a goal, which helps shift my mindset.
One week, I had a pile of inspections to wrap up before the weekend. I told myself I'd get them all done before lunch on Friday and treat myself to an extended coffee break if I did. It worked—I stayed focused and got through it faster than usual. The little reward helped, too.

Vikrant Bhalodia · Answer

We use a "10-minute reset" when motivation drops. If someone feels stuck, they switch to a different, low-pressure task for ten minutes — replying to emails, organizing notes, or having a quick check-in. It helps restart focus without forcing it.
We've observed that motivation doesn't usually come first. Action comes first, and motivation follows. The reset breaks that mental freeze and gets people moving again.
We also keep daily goals limited to three clear priorities. Long lists overwhelm people before they start. Smaller, focused lists give a sense of control.
We talk about low-energy days openly. If someone's behind, we check their workload, not their attitude. That honesty helps people recover faster instead of hiding it.
This simple combination of resets, short lists, and honest check-ins helps us stay productive even when motivation is lacking.

The Frequency

9 Strategies to Overcome Procrastination and Boost Motivation at Work

9 Strategies to Overcome Procrastination and Boost Motivation at Work

Align Work with Personal Values

Leverage Body Doubling for Task Initiation

Structure Day for Focus and Innovation

Create Accountability Through Commitment Deadlines

Reverse Recruit Yourself for Motivation

Implement Time Blocking for Efficiency

Set Three Daily Priorities

Turn Tasks into Personal Challenges

Use Ten-Minute Resets to Restart Focus