Almost everyone knows the feeling.
You plan to start something important. Work. Studying. Cleaning up. Exercising.
And then you think, “I’ll do it in five minutes.”
Five minutes turns into thirty. Thirty turns into tomorrow.
This happens to students, professionals, and people who genuinely want to get things done. And it happens more often than most people admit.
It’s Not Laziness
When people procrastinate, the usual explanation is laziness or lack of discipline. But that explanation doesn’t match reality.
Most people already know what they need to do. They make plans. They set reminders. They feel guilty when they don’t follow through.
The real problem isn’t knowing what to do.
It’s starting—especially when distractions are everywhere.
Phones, messages, social apps, and notifications make it incredibly easy to delay. Every interruption creates a new choice: keep going, or switch tasks.
Most of the time, switching wins.
Why Reminders Don’t Help Much
Many productivity apps rely on reminders and encouragement. They send notifications. They suggest starting now. They try to motivate.
But reminders are easy to ignore. Notifications are easy to swipe away.
When starting a task still feels uncomfortable, people simply postpone again. The reminder disappears, but the delay remains.
What Actually Helps Some People Start
For some people, the only thing that works is removing options.
When distractions aren’t available, starting becomes easier. There’s less debate, less hesitation, and fewer excuses.
This idea has led to a growing number of tools focused on blocking distractions during specific times rather than trying to inspire users in the moment.
One example is Mom Clock, a discipline-focused productivity app that restricts access to selected apps during scheduled focus periods. Instead of asking users to stay focused, it enforces the decision they already made earlier.
The goal isn’t motivation.
It’s follow-through.
Less Thinking, More Doing
When fewer choices are available, people spend less energy negotiating with themselves.
They don’t need to feel motivated.
They just need fewer ways to escape the task.
For students, workers, and anyone overwhelmed by constant digital noise, this approach can make starting feel less heavy.
A Simple Takeaway
If you keep telling yourself “I’ll do it later,” the problem may not be effort or discipline.
It may be that there are too many chances to delay.
Sometimes, the easiest way to start is to remove the option not to.
About Mom Clock
Mom Clock is a discipline-focused productivity app designed to help users follow through on planned tasks by limiting distractions during focus time.
