We all procrastinate over certain tasks: it's almost inevitable. Procrastination can become problematic, though ... particularly because the more you procrastinate, the more resistance you'll feel to completing a task. It'll seem a much bigger deal than it really is, simply because you've been putting it off for so long.

Here are six tools you can use to reduce, avoid, or push past procrastination:

While it might be helpful to recognise that you habitually procrastinate, constantly beating yourself up about it and telling yourself that you're a hopless procrastinator isn't going to make it any easier to move forward!

Set the past aside. Imagine that you are, already, the productive and focused writer you want to be. If you normally spend half an hour "warming up" into every writing session, for instance, change that -- and get started straight away.

It is so, so tempting to wait for the "right" time -- especially if you're going to be starting something new. Of course, this can be very sensible: starting a new novel just before you move house might not be ideal. 

If you've been waiting for months and months for that perfect moment, though, it's time to recognise that it's never going to come. Life will always be busy, one way or another. Begin anyway.

"Write novel" isn't an achievable task -- it's not something you can do in a day!

"Write Chapter 10" or "Write 500 words" or "Write for 30 minutes", however -- that's a much more reasonable task for your to-do list.

If you're feeling daunted by a big project, break it down into little pieces. Ask yourself "what's the next step?" -- and do it.

I'm a morning person. I like to get on with work early in the day, and relax in the evenings. I try to avoid working after dinner time -- I really struggle to focus (unless I'm writing something that I'm particularly excited about).

You might be completely different -- but chances are, you have times of the day when you can focus well, and times when you just want to zone out in front of the TV. As much as possible, use your best times for writing. That may mean getting up earlier, or changing your work schedule slightly.

Tell someone else that you're writing -- and share your progress. I've seen this happening a lot during NaNoWriMo: one of my friends emails his novel-in-progress to his daughter each day, for instance. Others prefer not to share their actual content, but instead tell their Facebook friends how many words they've written that day, and how far they've got in total.

Have you got a friend or family member who could support you in this way? You could let them know, each day or each week, what you've achieved with your writing. You might even text or message them at the start of a writing session, to tell them you're going to write for an hour. That way, you'll be much more likely to stick to your commitment.

Sometimes, it's helpful to view the temptation to procrastinate as a signal or message. For instance, perhaps your urge to clean your desk instead of writing that short story means:

Take a minute or two to ask yourself, honestly, what procrastination is telling you right now ... and then respond accordingly.

This week, procrastinate less! Use at least one idea from the list above to help you move on with your writing. Best of luck!