A postponed task is easier to follow when you keep three pieces of information: why it is not happening now, what will let you return to it and the next action. First check whether its deadline can move, especially if someone else is waiting for the result.
This method does not prevent all procrastination. It records a decision, so you do not have to reconsider the same vague line every morning.
Check what can actually move
A date you chose for working on the task can be adjusted. An application closing date or a commitment to a client needs a different check. If you cannot meet the deadline, postponing may have to begin with asking for an extension.
Look at the obstacle too: not enough time, missing information, an oversized task or a changed priority. You do not need a perfect justification to change your plans. Knowing what is in the way helps you choose a useful next step.
Choose a date or a condition for returning
Set a time to return when you know your availability. If the task depends on a reply, note that dependency and a follow-up date if needed. “Waiting for the quote; follow up on Friday if it has not arrived” says more than “check on Friday”.
Add the next action: the document to open, the message to find or the information to request. Breaking a task into small steps can help when “pick it up again” still does not say what to do.
Once you have chosen where it goes next, remove the task from today's view. Check that you will be able to find it at the right time. Hiding it is not enough if you have no point when you look at pending items.
Wording you can return to later
| Current entry | Information to add |
|---|---|
| “Housing application” | Find the required-document list before asking for anything missing |
| “Quote” | Waiting for the garage; follow up on Friday if there is no reply |
| “Course idea” | Keep as a possibility, with no commitment for this week |
| “Send the draft” | Check the revised deadline agreed with the recipient |
These are examples to adapt. A short sentence is enough if it lets you understand the decision when you return.
When the same task keeps moving
Read the intended result again. Perhaps it is no longer useful or still depends on someone else. Perhaps “sort out the application” contains several actions, none with a clear place to start.
If the commitment still matters and you cannot meet it, discussing the amount of work may be more useful than choosing another date. The article on organising difficult days includes a message you can adapt.
Postponing in Molleva
Move an essential out of Today into Later and return to it when you decide. Postponing and basic small steps are available free.
The app keeps confirmed items. It does not check the consequences of a missed deadline for you. See postponing in the app.
Questions about postponing
Does every task need a new date?
A condition may be more accurate when another action has to happen first. For a real deadline, also keep the final date somewhere you will check.
How many times can I postpone the same thing?
The number alone cannot tell you whether the decision is useful. Check whether the commitment is still needed and whether it is clearer how you will return to it.
Can I delete a task instead of postponing it?
Yes, when there is no longer a reason to keep it and no commitment remains to deal with. If someone is waiting for the result, clarify what is being cancelled or replaced first.