One quick 10-minute task can significantly increase your happiness today, according to a therapist.

Procrastination is more likely to occur when a task is not urgent, even if it only takes a few minutes to complete.

Completing a task you've been putting off can improve your mood and enhance your happiness instantly, according to Vienna Pharaon, a therapist and author of "The Origins of You."

Ignoring something has been weighing you down, but addressing it can lighten the load and allow you to accomplish it, she says.

Completing small tasks can be difficult despite our motivation.

'A reason becomes an excuse when it's more habitual'

According to Joseph Ferrari, a psychology professor at DePaul University in Chicago and the author of "Still Procrastinating: The No-Regrets Guide to Getting it Done," procrastinating on small responsibilities does not necessarily mean you are lazy.

Ferrari says that we are skilled at delaying tasks that we believe may be unpleasant.

"An excuse is created when a reason for not completing a task becomes habitual," Ferrari explains.

If you haven't vacuumed your rug in a month, it's possible that your reasons are actually excuses, which can lead to a cycle of procrastination.

The Zeigarnik effect, a psychological phenomenon, causes cognitive dissonance when we remember unfinished tasks better than completed ones, which can distract us and decrease our productivity.

'Choose something that's challenging, but also achievable'

To ease some mental stress, try removing one task from your to-do list. If you're struggling to decide which task to tackle, follow these steps:

1. Pharaon suggests that doing things like going to bed earlier, drinking more water, having a difficult conversation, getting a challenging workout, and putting your phone down at night can all improve your mood.
2. Pharaon advises selecting something that is challenging but achievable. Perhaps you've been putting off telling a friend you can't make it to their birthday party. Although it may be difficult, it's not impossible, and you'll feel much better afterward.
3. "Break things down and do a little bit," Ferrari advises. For instance, if you know completing a task will take an hour, commit to doing a portion of it instead.

Completing a simple task can instantly boost your productivity and improve your mood.

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