I was going to write this blog about procrastination last week… but, well, you know how it goes.
Procrastination is one of those things we all do, even though we know we shouldn’t. It’s like eating that extra slice of cake when you’re already full, or hitting snooze one more time when you know you should just get up. We tell ourselves, I’ll do it later, but “later” has a sneaky way of turning into never.
Speaking of which, have you ever put off something so long that it actually became pointless—or worse, way more painful—than it needed to be? Let me tell you a story.
Missing the World Series
In the fall of ’23, when the Diamondbacks made the World Series, I had a tooth that had become super-sensitive to anything cold. Instead of going to the dentist like a responsible adult, I did what any seasoned procrastinator would do—I ignored it and hoped it would magically fix itself.
Fast forward to Game 1 of the World Series. Instead of watching the Dbacks with Teresa and friends, I was lying in a dentist’s chair, iPhone balanced on my chest, listening to the game while getting a root canal.
The Science of Procrastination
According to a 2007 study, procrastination is defined as:
“Voluntarily delaying an intended course of action despite expecting to be worse off for the delay.”
In other words, we know we shouldn’t put things off… but we do it anyway!
My friend, Randy Cooney, recently tackled this topic in his Monday Morning MOJO email, and I couldn’t resist sharing some of his insights. Did you know that International Procrastination Day isn’t just one day? It’s actually the first fourteen days of March—presumably to give procrastinators time to get around to celebrating it!
Randy also calls procrastination by another name: “Some-Day Syndrome.” You know the one—Some day, I’ll get in shape. Some day, I’ll clean the garage. Some day, I’ll start that big project I’ve been avoiding. The problem? Some day is not a real day of the week.
As Edward Young wisely said:
“Procrastination is the thief of time.”
And boy, does it steal a lot of it!
The Cost of Procrastination
Procrastination isn’t just about putting off chores or skipping workouts. It can have real consequences:
- Missed Opportunities – That dream job? That investment opportunity? That bucket list trip? They won’t wait forever.
- Increased Stress – Putting things off often leads to last-minute scrambles, and let’s be honest, nobody enjoys that.
- Lost Sleep – Ever laid in bed thinking about all the things you should have done that day? Randy put it perfectly:
“If you would sleep better doing it today, choose to sleep better.”
Translation? Just do it now and thank yourself later.
Breaking the Cycle: How to Beat Procrastination
So how do we stop procrastinating? The answer is simple—start.
Here are a few tricks to help you overcome procrastination before it overcomes you:
- The 5-Minute Rule – Tell yourself you’ll do just five minutes of the task. Chances are, once you start, you’ll keep going.
- Make It Fun – Hate doing paperwork? Play music while you work. Need to clean the garage? Turn it into a game.
- Create Deadlines – If there’s no urgency, create some! Set a timer, tell a friend to hold you accountable, or schedule rewards for getting things done.
- Do the Hardest Thing First – Tackle your biggest task early in the day when your energy is highest.
- Ask: Will I Regret Not Doing This? – If the answer is yes, do it now.
Randy shared another great piece of advice:
“Avoid putting on the shoulders of tomorrow what could be done today.”
In other words, the “future you” will be thankful if the “today you” gets it done.
Before You Put This Off Until Later
Procrastination is sneaky. It disguises itself as harmless delay, but it slowly steals your time, energy, and opportunities.
So, what’s something you’ve been putting off?
Seriously, think about it for a second.
Now go do it.
You’ll be glad you did.
(And if it happens to be dealing with a sore tooth, call the dentist right now—before you end up missing “the big game” because you need a root canal.)
