I got here today with an old mindset
It goes like this
I’ll do it later.
Boy do I hate those words
Later is still me doing them.
That discomfort I’m running from
It’ll still be there just worse.
Worse because I have less time now
The time is now
The one minute in front of me.
Get all of the writing done with
Get your damn pushups finished
Don’t leave it for later.
I don’t want to have to do it later
I can do it right now.
While I may not have the most energy
I have enough energy to get through it.
Enough is all I need.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of procrastination, telling yourself that you’ll do it later, that you’ll handle it when you’re more prepared, more energized, or more motivated. But the truth is, later is just a different version of now—only with added pressure, less time, and perhaps even more stress. The tasks you push off won’t disappear; they’ll simply accumulate, waiting for you with the same discomfort you tried to avoid, now amplified by the weight of delay.
That old mindset of putting things off until later is a sneaky form of self-sabotage. It tricks you into believing that by avoiding the task now, you’re somehow escaping discomfort. But in reality, you’re only deferring it, allowing it to grow into something more daunting. The minutes slip by, and with each one, the task you avoided becomes a larger burden, looming over you with an increasing sense of urgency.
The key to breaking free from this cycle is to seize the moment in front of you. The time is now—this minute, this second. It’s not about having all the energy or feeling fully ready; it’s about recognizing that you have enough to get started, and that’s all you need. Once you begin, you’ll find that momentum carries you through, and the task that seemed overwhelming becomes manageable, even conquerable.
There’s a kind of power in taking action immediately, in refusing to let the allure of “later” dictate your choices. By doing what needs to be done now, you’re not only completing the task, but you’re also building a habit of discipline, a habit of confronting challenges head-on rather than letting them fester. This approach doesn’t just get the job done; it strengthens your resolve, making you more resilient in the face of future tasks.
Imagine the relief of having your writing finished, your pushups done, and knowing that you’ve taken care of what needed to be done. That relief, that peace of mind, is worth far more than the temporary comfort of procrastination. It’s the satisfaction of knowing you faced the discomfort, dealt with it, and emerged stronger on the other side.
So when you catch yourself slipping into that old mindset, remind yourself that “later” isn’t an escape—it’s a trap. The discomfort will still be there, but now you’ll be facing it with less time, more stress, and a heavier burden. Instead, choose to act now. Use the energy you have, even if it’s not much, because enough is all you need to start. And once you start, you’ll find that’s all you needed to finish too.
You have the power to break the cycle of procrastination, to replace the mindset of “later” with a mindset of “now.” It’s a choice you make every day, every moment. And each time you choose to act now, you’re reinforcing your ability to handle whatever comes your way, with confidence and resolve.
