How do I stop procrastinating on important tasks?

The most effective approach is to shrink the task until starting feels effortless. Instead of telling yourself to "write the report," commit to just opening the document and writing one sentence. This bypasses the mental resistance that causes procrastination. Once you start, momentum usually carries you forward. Also, identify whether your procrastination is driven by fear of failure, perfectionism, or just low energy, because the fix differs. Set a specific time to work rather than vague intentions like "I'll do it later." Remove distractions before you sit down. And stop waiting to feel motivated, because motivation typically follows action, not the other way around. Treat starting as the only goal, not finishing.