About this quote

The line turns procrastination into a joke but the point is clear: delaying can become a habit that fills your calendar without adding value. You end up trading real options for a comfortable pattern of pushing things later. Notice the small, avoidable tasks you keep moving and set a tiny deadline for one of them right now. Do that and you break the pattern and actually free time instead of losing it.

When to use it

• At work before a big status meeting, I shrugged and said, 'Never put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well,' then blocked a focused hour to finish the slides.
• Studying for finals, I remembered Mark Twain's line and told myself, 'Okay, five minutes on the outline now,' and the rest flowed after that.
• After delaying a dental checkup all year, I laughed about the quote with the receptionist and booked the next available appointment instead of waiting.
• On a cold morning when I kept avoiding the run, my coach quoted that line and I laced up and went out for a short easy jog right away.