Have you ever procrastinated on something?
Or said something like:
“I NEED to take action on this thing I want, but I just keep putting it off.”
Chances are, yes.
I have too.
We put so much pressure on ourselves to take action…
and then when we don’t, we create this whole story about it:
“I’m just scared.”
“I don’t know how to start.”
“What if I do something wrong?”
But take another look at those statements.
None of them are truths.
They’re just thoughts — made up by the mind to explain why we’re not doing something.
And the second we label it as procrastination, it starts to carry weight.
Because procrastination points to fear, anxiety, failure… the unknown.
Right?
What WE think procrastination is
Procrastination is simply a term we’ve created to define putting something off.
But it doesn’t feel simple.
Because if you say you’re procrastinating, the assumption is:
- You want to do it, but you’re scared
or - You don’t want to do it, but you feel like you have to
Write a book.
Do your taxes.
Start the thing.
And then what happens when you become aware of it?
You procrastinate more.
What started as a delay…
turns into an identity.
What procrastination ACTUALLY IS…
If you zoom out, all that’s happening is:
You’re thinking…
and then creating a story about those thoughts.
For example, saying:
“I NEED to write my book, but I’m procrastinating…”
is really just saying:
“What I’m doing right now is less important than writing my book.”
But what if it’s not?
What if what you’re doing right now is the most important thing?
What if you’re:
- Gathering information
- Spending time with family
- Watching something you enjoy
- Living experiences you’ll eventually pull from
What if you think you NEED to write a book at 40…
but you’re actually ready at 41?
When we say we’re procrastinating, we’re quietly judging the present moment.
Why procrastination ACTUALLY hurts
We think procrastination hurts us because we’re avoiding responsibility.
But that’s not really it.
The idea of procrastination hurts us…
because we believe what we should be doing is more important than what we’re actually doing.
And the moment that happens, we leave the present.
And the present is the only place where anything gets done.
A QUICK STORY
For the first three years of being self-employed, I had absolutely no idea how to do my taxes.
So… I didn’t.
When I finally did them, they were:
- Late
- Wrong
In my fourth year, I hired an accountant.
With his help, I re-submitted everything from the previous three years and created a system moving forward.
Now I’m more in touch with my money and taxes than ever before.
But at the time?
It was a nightmare.
I had to go through every single transaction from every account for those three years.
So what did I do?
I grabbed a La Croix, lit a candle, turned on some lo-fi… and sat at my computer for a few hours every week.
Did I have to show up?
No.
But I wanted to.
And that’s the difference.
THE REAL SHIFT
I can’t blame myself for not knowing what I didn’t know.
Or for “putting it off.”
Instead of continuing the story of:
“I don’t know what I’m doing when it comes to money and taxes,”
I chose a different one.
I told myself:
This is how the timing was supposed to happen.
So when I look back,
I don’t see procrastination.
I see a growth journey.
Will you change the way you see procrastination?
Procrastination takes your focus off the present and puts it on the past and future —
the two places where nothing actually gets done.
It adds pressure that makes you anxious in the moment…
which only makes you want to retreat.
But at the end of the day, procrastination is just an idea.
It’s not an action.
And when you see that, things get a lot simpler.
Don’t force yourself to take action.
Instead, allow yourself to enjoy the moment.
And if enjoying the moment includes you taking action…
Then you get to enjoy that too.
What have you been “procrastinating” on lately? And what lovely experiences have you been having instead?
Til next time,
Shay
If this shifted something for you, and you want support applying this to your own life or creative work…
I offer 1:1 coaching where we unpack the stories that are keeping you stuck and help you move from clarity instead of pressure.
Book your Discovery Call today.