Do it now.
Nothing complicated, just direct. To the point so there's no room for excuses. Laundry piled up? Do it now. Dishes? Same. Before bed. Annoyed about cleaning the shower? Set the timer for 10 minutes and be done with it. Emails to catch up on? 20 minutes, and oh, wow, inbox 2. Or ideally zero but that's perhaps a bit too wishful. New recipe to try at home after work? An hour or two later it's in my belly (or neatly stacked in the fridge for lunch). Great feeling.
The results? Well, a cleaner home for one. But since this mantra works for any task or thing you would rather put off, it essentially guarantees success. Even if you can't complete something in one sitting, by just telling yourself to do it now and get things started means that the next time you give it your attention you'll be that much further along and before you know it - done.
The one thing I never find myself saying (in my head, mind you) is that I really wish I spent more time putzing around online. I never tell myself, better read some more nonsense blogs or kill a few moments on Facebook. And when I say, "do it now" to get something of real value accomplished, I'm far more apt to shut the screen and be productive. But for the rare "long read" that sits in my browser for too many days despite being something of true interest that could expand my knowledge on some important topic - it works too.
Who'd have thought it would be so simple? Not me.
