Clarity Is the Cure for Overwhelm
Have you ever stared at your to-do list and felt completely stuck, unsure of what to tackle first? Or avoided starting a task because you weren’t sure exactly how to do it? If so, you’ve experienced uncertain procrastination—when a lack of clarity keeps you from moving forward.
What Is Uncertain Procrastination?
Uncertain procrastination happens when we haven’t taken the time to define exactly what we need to do. Without clear goals or actions, we feel overwhelmed, and procrastination becomes a natural response. Instead of facing the amorphous blob of “to-dos,” we avoid it altogether.
David Allen, author of Getting Things Done, calls this “an amorphous blob of un-doability.” When your tasks lack specificity, they can feel too big or vague to tackle. For example:
- “Fix car” isn’t actionable—it’s a project with multiple steps (e.g., call the mechanic, buy parts, etc.).
- “Work on sermon” is too broad to feel manageable.
- “Mentor new believers” is pretty broad, too!
Lack of clarity feeds procrastination, and before long, you’re stuck in a cycle of avoiding the very tasks you need to accomplish.
Strategies to Overcome Uncertain Procrastination
1. Take 60 Seconds to Refocus
Sometimes, clarity is only a minute away. Use this quick exercise to reconnect with your goals:
- Ask yourself two questions:
- How exactly would my life be better if I did this task? (Think about the stress it would relieve, the value it would add, or the progress it would bring.)
- What is the specific outcome I’m aiming for? (Define the goal clearly.)
For example:
- Instead of “work on sermon,” your outcome might be: “Write the sermon outline and choose one illustration on discipleship.”
- Instead of “fix car,” your outcome might be: “Call the mechanic to schedule an appointment.”
2. Break Projects into Next Actions
A project is anything that requires more than one step to complete. When you’re stuck, ask yourself: “What is the very next action I need to take to move this forward?”
For example:
- Instead of Instead of “mentor new believers,” you could “create mentoring meeting outline“
- Instead of “plan event,” your next action might be: “Email the venue about availability.”
When you break projects into smaller, actionable steps, they become far less overwhelming—and far easier to start.
3. Use Visual Organization Tools
If your tasks and projects feel overwhelming, visual tools can help you organize them:
- Mind maps: Create a visual representation of all the components of your project. This helps you see the big picture and identify next steps.
- Kanban boards: Tools like Trello or physical boards allow you to move tasks from “To Do” to “In Progress” to “Done.”
Seeing your progress visually can motivate you to keep moving forward.
Why Clarity Matters
Clarity isn’t just about productivity—it’s about peace of mind. When you’re clear on what needs to be done and how to do it, you feel more in control and less overwhelmed. And when you’re less overwhelmed, procrastination loses its grip.
What’s Your Next Action?
Take a moment to think about a task you’ve been avoiding. What is the specific outcome you’re aiming for? What’s the very next action you need to take? Write it down, and then do it—right now.
Action Step: Share in the comments or with a friend: What’s one task you’ve been putting off, and what’s your next action to move it forward? Let’s beat uncertain procrastination together.
All the Types of Procrastination:
In this series on different types of procrastination, here are 6 types we’ll explore:
- Fearful Procrastination – Driven by fear of failure, success, or others’ opinions.
- Uncertain Procrastination – Caused by lack of clarity about what to do next.
- Perfectionism Procrastination – Delaying because you feel you can’t do it perfectly.
- Wisdom Procrastination – Resistance to tasks that don’t align with your skills or passions.
- Control Procrastination – Putting off tasks as a form of rebellion against external expectations.
- Lazy Procrastination – When you just don’t want to do the work.
