Overcoming Procrastination: A Deeper Look

We all know the cycle.

Cue: You’re faced with a task you’ve been putting off—maybe for days, weeks, or even months.

Routine: Instead of starting it, you do… something else. Anything else.

Reward: Instant relief. A short-lived escape from discomfort, anxiety, or self-doubt.

It’s easy to chalk procrastination up to laziness or lack of discipline. But often, there’s more going on under the surface. If you’re ready to dig deeper, ask yourself this:

What’s the hidden cost of not procrastinating?

That might sound strange. After all, procrastination delays progress, right? But the subconscious mind may be trying to protect you—from discomfort, vulnerability, or even success. Sounds paradoxical, but it’s real.

For some, success means change. And change can feel dangerous to the social brain.

“If I succeed, I’ll be different. My friends or family might see me differently. I might lose connection. I might not belong.”

Belonging is a fundamental human need. The fear of standing out or being seen as “too much” can quietly sabotage our drive to follow through. This is often invisible—we don’t *realize* we’re holding back. But the fear is there.

George Michael once shared how, after rising to global fame, some of his closest friends started looking at him differently. He hadn’t changed, he said—but their perception had. It was painful. Fame came at a personal cost.

Elvis Presley understood this, too. He kept a framed quote in his home to remind himself:

“The higher up the mountain you go, the more you stand out. Some people will love you, others will hate you—but you must stay true to who you are.”

So, the next time you find yourself procrastinating, pause. Ask:

What might I be afraid of—really?

What would change if I finished this and succeeded?

Am I subconsciously trying to protect myself from the discomfort of being seen, different, or ‘too much’?

Awareness is the first step. From there, you can begin to rewrite the pattern.