Procrastination is a b*tch

It's Monday morning. I open my laptop and see one task on my list: "Finish report." I know it needs to get done. But first, I check my email. Scroll through LinkedIn. Read the news. Coffee. Then I remember I still need to respond to a request. By the time I finally open my document, I already feel exhausted. "Tomorrow, I'll really start." I know I'm fooling myself. But why does starting feel harder than the task itself?

Procrastination is often mistaken for laziness. But a lazy person doesn't struggle internally. Someone who procrastinates does. They know what needs to be done and feel the pressure of what they're avoiding. And yet… they remain stuck in distractions, excuses, and other activities.

That's because procrastination isn't a matter of discipline, but of psychology. Our brain is at war with itself. The rational part understands deadlines, consequences, the long term. But the emotional part lives in the present and wants to avoid discomfort. And the latter usually wins. Not because we are weak or unmotivated, but because this part is older, faster, and more powerful.

Procrastination is rarely about "not feeling like it." There's almost always an emotion underneath.

Sometimes, it's fear. As long as I don't start, I can keep believing that I potentially could write a great report. Once I begin, I risk it turning out badly. Or worse: that it turns out well, and even more will be expected of me.

Sometimes, it's perfectionism. The higher the bar, the heavier the first step. I wait for the perfect moment, the perfect inspiration. But that moment never comes.

Sometimes, a task just feels too big. My brain loves clarity. If it doesn't know where to start, it prefers something manageable. Clearing emails. Scrolling a bit. Another cup of coffee.

Sometimes, it's simply a lack of connection. My report needs to be finished, but does it feel meaningful? Or am I doing it mostly to please someone else? Tasks without meaning feel like dead weight and are the easiest to postpone.

Motivation becomes easier when something aligns with who you want to be. People who see themselves as athletic don't have to push themselves as hard to exercise. For a writer, writing doesn't feel like work but like something that belongs to them. This has to do with how we see ourselves: if a task fits that image, we experience less resistance.

This doesn't mean you'll never procrastinate again. But if you consistently feel resistance, it might be worth asking yourself: Does this align with who I want to be? And if not, can I create a meaningful link to it?

My report might feel like a burden, but if I remind myself why I started this study in the first place—because I value growth—that might just give me the energy to actually begin.

So procrastination isn't just a battle against discomfort. Sometimes, it's a signal that we haven't yet figured out why something truly matters to us.

And if you notice that you keep procrastinating? Don't see it as failure, but as a signal. What's holding you back? Where is the resistance? And more importantly: how can you turn it into something that actually moves you forward?

Personal leadership begins with understanding why you do what you do—and taking responsibility for it. So ask yourself that question today. Not tomorrow. Today.