I beat procrastination with these 5 stupidly simple morning shifts. You can, too.

For years, I was the king of putting things off.

I'd wake up with every intention of getting work done, only to find myself three hours later having accomplished absolutely nothing.

I'd tell myself I'd start tomorrow. That I'd be more motivated after I'd had a coffee. That I just needed to check my emails first.

You know how it goes.

But here's the thing. The problem wasn't that I was lazy or unmotivated. The real issue was how I was starting my days. I was setting myself up to procrastinate before I'd even had breakfast.

It took me longer than I'd like to admit to figure this out, but once I did, everything changed. I made five simple shifts to my morning routine, and my procrastination problem pretty much vanished.

These changes weren't dramatic. I didn't start waking up at 4 a.m. or running marathons before sunrise. They were small, practical adjustments that made a massive difference.

Here's what worked for me.

1. I stopped checking my phone first thing

This was probably the hardest habit to break, but it was also the most important.

I used to wake up and immediately reach for my phone. Before my feet hit the floor, I'd be scrolling through emails, checking social media, reading the news. I told myself I was just getting a head start on the day.

What I was actually doing was filling my brain with other people's priorities before I'd even thought about my own.

As empowerment psychologist Jay Rai points out, when we check our phones right after waking up, we're priming our brain for distraction. Our brains need time to wake up properly, and when we dive straight into information overload, we're skipping important stages.

So I made a rule. No phone until after I'd completed my morning routine.

At first, I felt like I was missing out on something. But within a week, I noticed I was starting my days with a clearer head. I wasn't reactive. I wasn't scattered. I was focused on what I needed to do.

This one shift alone made a huge difference in cutting down my procrastination.

2. I started waking up at the same time every day

I used to think sleeping in on weekends was my reward for getting up early during the week. I'd set my alarm for 6:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, then happily sleep until 9 or 10 on Saturday and Sunday.

Turns out, this was sabotaging my entire week.

Our bodies thrive on consistency. When we wake up at the same time every day, we set a rhythm for our internal clock. This makes it easier to fall asleep at night and wake up feeling refreshed in the morning.

Now, I wake up at the same time every single day. Yes, even on weekends. My energy levels are more consistent, and I've noticed I'm far less likely to waste my mornings procrastinating.

Consistency breeds productivity. When you start each day at the same time, you create a reliable foundation for everything else.

3. I tackle my hardest task first

This is a concept popularized by Brian Tracy called "eating that frog." The idea is simple. You identify your most difficult or important task for the day and do it first thing in the morning, before you do anything else.

For me, adopting this habit was challenging at first. My natural instinct was to ease into the day with easier tasks. Check a few emails. Organize my desk. Maybe do some research.

But those tasks weren't moving the needle. They were just procrastination in disguise.

When I started eating that frog first thing, something clicked. Completing my most daunting task early provided this surge of motivation that carried me through the rest of the day. It created momentum.

Now, I don't even consider doing anything else until I've tackled my frog.

4. I added movement to my morning

I'm not going to tell you that you need to hit the gym at 5 a.m. or run ten kilometers before breakfast. That's not realistic for most of us, and it certainly wasn't for me.

But I did need to move my body in the morning.

Experts have noted that exercise boosts energy levels and improves cognitive functions like focus, memory, and planning. All of those are crucial for productivity, and I think, all of them help fight procrastination.

For me, the solution was simple. I swapped the gym for the golf range.

Swinging a club at the crack of dawn might not be a traditional workout, but it's movement that I actually enjoy. Unlike an intense gym session, it's something I look forward to. That made all the difference.

Incorporating this into my morning routine didn't just elevate my energy levels. It transformed my productivity. I was more alert, more focused, and way less likely to put things off.

Find movement that works for you. It doesn't have to be intense. It just needs to get your body going.

5. I started practicing gratitude

This one surprised me the most.

When a mentor first suggested I start each day by writing down a few things I was grateful for, I was skeptical. It sounded a bit too soft, too touchy-feely for someone focused on crushing their to-do list.

But I gave it a shot.

I learned this lesson the hard way when I was buried under the pressure of getting a new business off the ground. The endless to-do list was daunting, and my spirit was nearly broken. That's when my mentor stepped in with this strategy.

He told me to start each morning by jotting down a few things I was grateful for, no matter how big or small. Initially skeptical, I tried it anyway.

In short, it restored my drive and focus.

Here's why I think it works. When you're procrastinating, it's often because you're overwhelmed or disconnected from your purpose. You've lost sight of why you're doing what you're doing.

Gratitude brings you back to that. It reminds you of what matters. It shifts your mindset from scarcity and stress to abundance and possibility.

Now, I spend just a few minutes each morning writing down what I'm grateful for. It's become one of the most valuable parts of my routine.

The bottom line

These five shifts aren't groundbreaking. They're not complicated. They're just simple adjustments that, when done consistently, make a massive difference.

I went from being a chronic procrastinator to someone who actually gets things done. Not because I became a different person, but because I changed how I started my days.

You can do this too.

Try one or two of these shifts. See what happens. You might be surprised at how much they change your relationship with procrastination.

Until next time.