There are days when we do not feel like lifting a finger, yet we have so much to do, and the following line of action is to push them over to the next day, and on the next day, we push some tasks to the next day, this continues till we find ourself deep in the habit of procrastinating. Procrastination is a bad habit and prevents us from being productive as our to-do list remains unticked because we feel we can always do it later, tomorrow, or leave the task till we feel inspired and motivated enough to get the work done.
According to Napoleon Hill, procrastination is the bad habit of putting off until the day after tomorrow, which you should have done the day before yesterday. Procrastination is putting what can be done now for later. We have compiled thirty (30) quotes that will get you motivated and fired up to get that work done and get it done now.
30 Must-know procrastination quotes
Below are 30 quotes that explain procrastination. These quotes emphasize the importance of seizing the present moment, understanding the value of time, and understanding the consequences of perpetual delay. As highlighted by various figures, procrastination is not just a harmless habit but a significant obstacle to personal growth and success.
1. “While wasting our time hesitating and procrastinating, life goes on” by Seneca: One thing you must realize is that the whole world would not pause because you decide to procrastinate. Life goes on, and you are responsible for the outcome of your life.
Seneca’s quote emphasizes that life continues even when we hesitate and procrastinate. It serves as a reminder that the world doesn’t pause for our indecision, and we are accountable for the outcomes of our lives.
2. “People in life do not regret what they did, but what they did not.” by Prof. Philip Zimbardo: Over time, men regret what they wished they had done, over the time wasted, opportunity misused, or an activity procrastinated. Quit overthinking; do it now so you don’t join the list of men living life in regret. Prof. Philip Zimbardo’s quote highlights the regret people often feel for not taking action. It encourages readers to avoid overthinking and act now to prevent future regrets.
3. “Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness, no laziness, no procrastination: never put off till tomorrow what you can do today” by Philip Stanhope: Time is precious; if you waste time, you waste life; if you waste time, you waste money. Ensure you maximize every bit of your time living life instead of just passing away time.
4. I recommend you to take care of the minutes, for the hours will take care of themselves by Philip Stanhope: Start, do what you must now, and ensure you live in the moment. Do not worry your head about how tomorrow will go; if today is well maximized, tomorrow will surely take care of itself. Most people live today worrying about tomorrow and tomorrow worrying about the next; they never live in the present.
5. A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week by George S. Patton: Do it now; it does not have to be perfect; ensure you give it your best. Perfectionists have plans written and wait till everything adds up, and most times, ten years later, it still needs to add up, so they never take any step.
6. Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail Better by Samuel Beckett: You can do better the next time you try, even after failing; falling doesn’t make you a failure but gives you experience as you learn a way not to do it. Keep trying; even if you fail, ensure you fail forward.
7. When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor by Elon Musk: Your importance on something determines how far you will go to get it done. If it is essential, do it; let nothing stop you.
8. It always seems impossible until Nelson Mandela does it: You only know how far you can go and what you can do once you take a step. That rock might seem so tremendous, but every stroke of the hammer on the rock sure affects it. Keep at it; you will be surprised at how much you can do.
9. Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The surest way to succeed is always to try just one more time by Thomas A. Edison: One of the greatest undoing of many people is that they have the ‘give up’ option on their list. They feel they can’t take anymore, but they can take so much more. Strike out the ‘give up’ option from your list and include ‘try one more time,’ and success will indeed be attained.
10. “How wonderful it is that nobody needs to wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” by Anne Frank, Jewish: Start now; from that little corner, you do not have to wait till you figure it out or have the whole world’s attention.
11. Action will destroy your procrastination.” by Augustine “Og” Mandino: Taking that step, action will surely be the enemy of procrastination; they can’t stay in the same corner.
12. Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.” by Napoleon Bonaparte: Deliberation and planning are essential but do not let it cripple you. Know when to stop thinking and act.
13. “Overcoming procrastination is not, I repeat, not about cramming additional work into your day; overcoming procrastination is about simplifying your life to make space for the activities that matter most.” by Richie Norton: Do what matters most when you have to do them and delegate to others if possible. Ensure you have a little on your to-do list.
14. “The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks and then starting on the first one.” Mark Twain: One of the ways to get it done is to keep it simple by breaking it into small tasks that you can easily manage. Small and straightforward always boosts your morale to get things done.
15. “He who has begun has half done. Dare to be wise; begin.” by Horace: The most crucial step is to start; take that step; begin, and you will see how every other thing falls into place.
16. “The greatest amount of wasted time is the time not getting started.” by Dawson Trotman: Not getting started when you have much to do is a time waster. Many people think they still have time, so they delay beginning, only to realize that time and opportunity have slipped past them.
17. “It’s a job that’s never started that takes the longest to finish.” by J. R. R. Tolkien: Start and you will look back to see how far you have come. If you don’t start, progress will not be made.
18. “If we wait for the moment when everything, absolutely everything, is ready, we shall never begin.” by Ivan Turgenev: You don’t have to figure out everything; it will all fall into place.
19. “Much stress doesn’t come from having too much to do. It comes from not finishing what they started.” by David Allen: I can always continue later, which has given a lot of people a backlog of unfinished work. Please do it now and save yourself the pressure of meeting up.
20. “The momentum of continuous action fuels motivation, while procrastination kills motivation.” by Steve Pavlina: Those who procrastinate often lose the morale to keep at it and motivation; avoid that path by doing it now or when it is due.
21. “During a hectic life, I have often been asked, “How did you manage to do it all?” The answer is straightforward. It is because I did everything promptly.” by Sir Richard Tangye: Doing things promptly saves you from the stress of attending to a backlog of work.
22.“Getting an idea should be like sitting on a pin; it should make you jump up and do something.” by E.L. Simpson: Ideas are meant to be acted upon and not kept in a notebook. Get to work on that idea. Only then will you see the beauty and power of the idea?
23.“We are so scared of being judged that we look for every excuse to procrastinate.” by Erica Jong: The excuses you give for procrastinating may make you feel better, but you should know that people do not always buy into your excuses. Quit making excuses and do it now.
24. “Doing things at the last minute reminds us of the importance of doing things at the first minute.” by Matshona Dhliwayo: Take that step when you ought to; the last-minute rush leaves you unorganized, and you might leave a few things out because of the pressure of meeting up.
25. “The problem with many people is that they procrastinate as if tomorrow doesn’t have some tasks of its own.” by Edmond Mbiaka: You must know that every day comes with its activities. So, leaving today’s work for tomorrow only makes you have work piling up.
26. “Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.” by Napoleon Hill: The right time to take that step is now; waiting for the perfect condition may derail you from taking that step. Hill’s quote dispels the notion of waiting for the perfect time. Taking action now is crucial, as waiting for ideal conditions may lead to inaction.
27.“Don’t fool yourself that important things can be put off till tomorrow; they can be put off forever, or not at all.” by Mignon McLaughlin: Most people start by saying I will do it tomorrow, then I can still do it next tomorrow, this continues, and then they finally say, “Why bother?” They need to take that step.
28.“My advice is never to do tomorrow what you can do today. Procrastination is the thief of time.” by Charles Dickens: Please do it now; you don’t have to wait till tomorrow. Ensure you maximize your time daily. Dickens’ quote characterizes procrastination as a thief of time. Waiting until tomorrow to complete tasks robs individuals of valuable time.
29.“Procrastination is also a subtle art of corruption – it corrupts valuable time.” by Dr. Amit Abraham: Just like me, corruption destroys a system, and so does procrastination. It never leaves you the same; it steals your time or opportunities. Abraham’s quote draws a parallel between procrastination and corruption. Both have a detrimental impact, eroding time and opportunities.
30.“If you have goals and procrastination, you have nothing. If you have goals and you take action, you will have anything you want.” by Thomas J. Vilord: Procrastinators never achieve their goals; when they do, they are always far behind schedule. Vilord’s quote emphasizes that having goals without taking action is equivalent to having nothing. Achievement comes through active pursuit rather than procrastination.
Conclusion
Procrastination is a big problem that takes away time, chances, and the motivation to do things. It’s not just about waiting; it shows that someone is not leading themselves well and makes it hard to reach goals. The quotes tell people to do things immediately, not be scared, and not make excuses. They say to be active in getting things done. If people follow this advice, they can eliminate procrastination and achieve a better and more satisfying life.