Why You Wait

The Hidden Promise in Procrastination

“All procrastination is delay, but not all delay is procrastination.” – Tim Pychyl

Spending time outdoors with Toby, my dog, is one of my favorite pastimes and also a go-to procrastination tactic.

Hello, Friend,

Today, I want to talk about a dirty little secret that we all face but rarely discuss openly: procrastination. This topic is inspired by a conversation I had last week with a Chief Product Officer of a tech scale-up who has delayed the launch of a new product for months; for anonymity’s sake, I’ll call her Margo.

As we spoke, Margo told me that she spent weeks asking her team for further tweaks and, more recently, asked the marketing team yet more questions about the launch communications. All of this has caused a lot of upset across the organization, and the launch is keeping her up at night.

When I pressed her, she knew she didn’t need more information; she’s been procrastinating. I get it; I’ve been there, too.

This week, I sat down to write a tricky section of my book. A few minutes into writing, I was making another cup of tea in the kitchen. Then I gave the dog a treat, checked in with my husband, and remembered I needed to book a flight for an upcoming trip. Before I knew it, an hour had passed, and my writing? Well, it was still there, waiting. Sound familiar?

We’re taught to see procrastination as a weakness or a flaw in our work ethic. But what if I told you that procrastination might be trying to tell you something important?

Procrastination isn’t about you or me being lazy or bad at managing our time; it’s about our emotions. Dr. Fuschia Sirois, a psychologist who studies procrastination, explains that, when we procrastinate, “we’re not avoiding the task…we’re avoiding the negative emotions associated with that task.” 

Think about it—the tasks we procrastinate on often carry weight. They matter to us. And that’s exactly why we avoid them.

And, therein lies the hidden promise in your procrastination: it’s a sign that the very thing you’re avoiding is important to you.  It stirs something in you—maybe fear of failure, doubt, or the pressure of getting it just right. The resistance you feel? That’s your clue.

In Margo’s case, she’s holding up the product launch through procrastination because she’s afraid of failure. In my case, I was feeling anxious about explaining some of the more difficult concepts in that chapter.

But here’s the thing: When you procrastinate, you not only push away the task but also the negative emotions you have about the task itself. It’s a temporary relief, for sure, and one that feels good in the moment, but it leaves the task and the emotions unresolved. (Hence, my book chapter patiently waiting for me to tackle it!)

The key to dealing with your procrastination isn’t about applying another productivity hack but about learning to manage the emotions you have about the task itself.

More than anything, you need self-compassion and the ability to acknowledge that your emotional struggle is simply part of the process.

So, what if you and I agree that instead of beating ourselves up for procrastinating, we take it as an invitation to get curious? 

Ask yourself, ‘How do I feel? What emotion is holding me back?’ Chances are, it’s something deeper than just not wanting to do the work. It might be fear of failure or success, or simply the discomfort of stepping into something bigger.

Remember, the task or decision isn’t the enemy—it’s the emotions tied to it. And by working through those emotions, you’ll not only get the task done, but you’ll grow from it. Because what’s waiting on the other side is often the very fulfillment or impact you seek.

That’s why yesterday I faced the challenge of writing that difficult section of the book that I’d had originally slated to finish earlier in the week—and, although this newsletter is going out late because of that…I feel relieved and proud of the work I accomplished.

And, if you’re wondering about Margo, well, she’s given the teams the green light.

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If you’re game, I invite you to join me and explore the promise in your procrastination.

Here’s how: 

1. Identify a task or decision you’ve been putting off: It doesn’t matter if it’s swapping your summer clothes for autumn (that’s on my weekend list) or having a difficult conversation with your boss or a colleague. Write it down.

2. Name the emotion: What are you feeling when you think about this task? Fear, doubt, overwhelm? (Sadness that summer has ended?)

3. Take one small step: What’s one action you can take today to move closer to completing it? It can be tiny—sending an email, brainstorming for 10 minutes, or even putting your flip-flops away for the season.

4. Be kind to yourself:  If you feel resistance, remind yourself it’s okay and just part of the growth process.

5. Celebrate your progress: Acknowledge any forward movement, however small. Each step you take is a win. Feel free to share your win in the comments below.

Remember, procrastination is more than just putting something off; it’s a reminder that what you’re avoiding is important. So, lean into it—I promise you that growth and good feelings are just on the other side.

Thanks for being here with me as you Live Your Opus. As always, if these words resonate with you, feel free to share them with someone else who might need this nudge today.

Until next time, be well!