Hi Everyone :) I'd love to know - What do you procrastinate?
I am trying to do something a little bonkers - I want to build an app when I am a bit of a technophobe! I am a product designer - so it's not entirely crazy but social media, online forums is all really alien to me. I'm looking to put the feelers out there to understand the demand for the idea - any tips or tricks?
The vague idea - without giving the game away....
People are incredible at tracking workouts, steps, sleep, macros…
…but somehow still stare at a single mug in the sink like it’s a moral dilemma.
I’m exploring an idea around why everyday maintenance tasks feel heavier than they are, and how the same psychology that keeps people hooked on fitness tracking might work for real-world chores.
👉 Would you use something that made small tasks feel as satisfying to complete as closing your rings or hitting a streak?
Curious how others experience this:
Do you procrastinate tiny tasks even when they take seconds?
Replies
Hi @georgie_modbur,
Your post reminded me of a Navy SEAL's suggestion of making your bed. Accomplishing a task can be rewarding if done right.
And yes, many of us would use an app if it makes us happy completing the small tasks.
We are all serial procrastinators here...
@ashok_nayak I had to look this up as it’s less talked about in the UK, but it’s so relevant.
Your line “we are all serial procrastinators here” really stuck with me. Some people wear that label proudly (me included), while others carry a lot of shame around it and might avoid tools that feel like “help”.
I’m curious, what would make something like this feel safe or even enjoyable for those people to engage with?
I HATE doing chores, especially washing up… procrastination is real! Why are tiny tasks so hard to fulfil? Find me a way to get it done - I beg🙏
I won't lie there's just something about seeing all the rings for a week closed on my fitness app. If there was something similar for small tasks that'll be really cool. Like if it felt kinda like a game
@ahuose_ikhile totally agree! It's super satisfying - who'd of thought 50 years ago we would do things we didn't like to make a ring complete 😅
This really resonates with me, especially working in the mental health and addiction field where I see this happening a lot.
People don’t struggle with chores because they’re difficult, but because they’re low-reward and weirdly hard to start. Our brains run on dopamine and reinforcement, and most household tasks offer no clear payoff or sense of completion. It’s just…. the mug will be back tomorrow.
When people are stressed or overloaded, even a 30-second task can feel heavier than it should. Avoiding it gives brief relief, which quietly reinforces procrastination.
Fitness tracking works because it makes effort visible and satisfying. Rings close, streaks continue, progress is obvious. If small everyday tasks came with that same sense of completion and reward, I genuinely think people would use it…I know I would!
Also I find procrastinating tiny tasks is incredibly common. What helps isn’t more discipline, but making tasks feel finite, rewarding, and a bit kinder to engage with.
@hannah_wallace @georgie_modbur
I agree that not every task needs to be gamified since some things like brushing your teeth or taking out the trash are just baseline responsibilities. I think where this gets interesting is not replacing discipline, it’s supporting people when stress, overload or mental fatigue makes even simple tasks feel heavier than they should. The goal wouldn’t be to reward everything but to help bridge the gap on days when motivation and energy are low, the same way fitness tracking supports consistency rather than replacing effort.
@georgie_modbur For me this doesn’t sound bonkers at all, it actually feels very human. I’m someone who can be extremely disciplined with structured systems (work and deadlines) and yet will inexplicably procrastinate on the smallest household tasks. A single mug in the sink is exactly the kind of thing my brain turns into a whole moment.
I think the difference is visibility and closure. Work tracking system works because effort is seen, progress is counted, and there’s a clear “done.” Everyday maintenance has none of that, it’s endless and unrewarded.
I’d definitely be curious about something that makes those tiny tasks feel finite and satisfying, as long as it feels supportive rather than naggy.