We’ve all had that moment — sitting on the couch, knowing there’s something we should be doing, but instead, we stay put. Maybe we scroll, binge a show or convince ourselves we’ll “get to it later.” Harmless, right? Not exactly.
Avoidance and procrastination aren’t just annoying habits. They’re quiet confidence killers. Over time, they chip away at your progress, damage your relationships, hurt your health and waste the most precious thing you have: time.
Confidence in your abilities to go after your goals can sometimes be difficult to find or keep.
It can sometimes take time to discover the confidence you have inside you. This can be especially true if you are trying something new.
I have a program that can help you to discover what is holding you back from achieving your goals as well as help you set an attainable goal related to where you are in your life and where you are trying to be.
This program also works with you to build up your confidence in being able to reach your goal.
You can find out more about this program at Confidology, a funny name but a serious program.
You can contact me to talk about this or any other aspect of confidence and success at michael@coachmichaelw.com
Visit the site and read through the program description.
If you are not ready to commit to a full program, I have a self-paced course on Udemy that may be of interest. You can find out about the course and register at Confidence and Motivation Development and Maintenance
Let’s get clear about what procrastination really costs you — and how to take back control.
What Procrastination Really Is
Procrastination isn’t laziness. It’s avoidance. It’s delaying something you know is important in favour of something easier or more comfortable. The result? You create more stress in the long run, not less.
It often comes disguised as harmless thoughts:
- “I’ll do it tomorrow.”
- “I’m not ready yet.”
- “It’s not the right time.”
Those excuses feel small in the moment, but their effects stack up fast.
You’re Wasting More Time Than You Think
Every time you put off a task, you’re not just delaying progress — you’re giving away time you can never get back. One evening of avoidance seems minor, but procrastination compounds.
An hour here. A day there. A month slips by. Then a year. Procrastination isn’t a single act. It’s a pattern. And once that pattern takes hold, it becomes your default response to discomfort.
Instead of moving forward, you stay stuck in place — watching others build their lives while you wonder where the time went.
Time is the one resource you’ll never recover. Use it wisely.
You Miss Out on Real Opportunities
Every time you delay action, you risk missing an opportunity that could’ve changed your life. That job you didn’t apply for? That connection you didn’t follow up on? That course you never enrolled in?
Avoidance shuts doors before you even knock on them.
Worse, you don’t just miss the main opportunity — you miss the ripple effects. Maybe that job didn’t work out, but what if it led to a better one? What if you’d made a mentor connection? What if you met your business partner there?
You don’t just lose one shot. You lose all the possibilities that could’ve followed it.
Your Reputation Takes a Hit
Your actions — or lack of action — shape how people see you. One missed deadline may be forgivable. But chronic procrastination makes people see you as unreliable, unmotivated, or inconsistent.
This matters more than you might think.
- Employers notice.
- Friends and partners notice.
- Collaborators and clients notice.
Your reputation isn’t built on your intentions. It’s built on your follow-through.
In both personal and professional life, trust is currency. When people stop trusting you to show up or follow through, doors start closing — even ones you don’t realize are there.
Procrastination can quietly erode your credibility, and once that’s damaged, rebuilding it takes serious time and effort.
Avoidance Can Impact Your Health
This is where procrastination gets real — and risky.
Let’s say you notice a new mole, a weird ache or a lump. You tell yourself you’ll call the doctor next week. Then next month. Suddenly it’s been six months, and now it’s not just a check-up. It’s a medical issue that could’ve been easier to treat early on.
Avoidance in health matters can be life-threatening.
The same goes for mental health. Avoiding difficult emotions, delaying therapy or refusing to face stress can build up into serious anxiety, depression or burnout. The longer you avoid, the worse it gets.
Procrastination isn’t harmless. In some cases, it’s dangerous.
You’re Sabotaging Your Own Confidence
Every time you procrastinate, you’re sending yourself a message — I can’t handle this right now.
Over time, you start to believe it.
Procrastination chips away at your self-trust. When you consistently avoid doing the things you say you will, you break your own internal promise. That creates guilt, stress, and a creeping feeling that you’re falling behind.
On the flip side, following through — even on small tasks — builds confidence. You feel in control. You feel capable. You trust yourself more.
Confidence doesn’t come from big wins. It comes from small, consistent action. Procrastination kills that momentum.
Why We Procrastinate: It’s Not What You Think
Most procrastination isn’t about poor time management. It’s emotional. We avoid tasks that:
- Make us feel overwhelmed.
- Make us fear failure.
- Seem boring or tedious.
- Are connected to uncomfortable truths (like needing to change something about ourselves).
Understanding why you procrastinate is key. Are you afraid of doing it wrong? Afraid of success? Trying to avoid discomfort?
Once you name the emotion, you take away its power.
How to Beat Procrastination — One Step at a Time
You don’t need a total life overhaul. You need better habits. Here’s how to shift from avoidance to action:
1. Break it down.
If a task feels huge, cut it into smaller pieces. “Update resume” becomes “Open resume file” → “Change last job title” → “Add new skills.”
2. Set deadlines — even for small things.
Deadlines create urgency. Even artificial ones help. Use them to drive focus.
3. Use time blocks.
Commit 15 or 25 minutes to a task. Use a timer. No distractions. After that, you can stop — or keep going if you’re in the zone.
4. Make it visual.
Track your progress somewhere visible. Cross off tasks. Colour-code your week. Seeing progress builds motivation.
5. Deal with the emotion.
If you’re scared of the task, ask yourself why. Sometimes just acknowledging the fear helps you move through it.
6. Forgive the past, focus on now.
You’ve put things off before. So what? The goal isn’t perfection — it’s progress. Start fresh today.
Procrastination Isn’t a Personality Trait — It’s a Pattern
You’re not “just a procrastinator.” You’re someone who’s developed avoidance habits — and habits can change.
Don’t let past behaviour define your future. Procrastination doesn’t make you lazy, incapable or unmotivated. It just means you’ve been operating in a loop that no longer serves you.
And the way out of that loop is simple: start. Even if it’s messy. Even if it’s small. Start something now.
Final Thought: Action Is the Cure
You don’t need another productivity hack or motivational video. What you need is to stop avoiding the thing you already know needs doing.
One action creates momentum. One completed task builds belief. One shift in how you deal with discomfort can reshape your future.
So ask yourself: What have I been avoiding? What can I do right now to move one step forward?
Then do it. That’s how you take your time back. That’s how you build your confidence.
To talk about any aspect of success or working with a Life Coach to help you to achieve success, you can book a 30-minute call by clicking on the blue button below.
Don’t try to do all of this by yourself, ask and receive the guidance that can get you moving towards your own success.
Working together can help you overcome personal and professional barriers, ensuring you reach your highest potential.
Nothing happens until action is taken.
To your success.
Michael
P.S Don’t forget to visit Confidology to learn more about the program. If you are not ready to commit to a full program, I have a self-paced course on Udemy that may be of interest. You can find out about the course and register at Confidence and Motivation Development and Maintenance
P.P.S if you want to find out more about my programs just check out the site Confidence and Life Coaching
P.P.P.S. If you enjoy reading these articles on my blog, I have more books that have more of this type of information that you can find out more about at Books to Read. You can buy these ebooks at many on-line book stores. The links to the bookstores are at the link above.
P.P.P.P.S. I have posted a series of articles on the “Fear of Success” at Confidence and Life Coaching. You can also request a free PDF of all 4-articles by sending me an email message at michael@coachmichaelw.com
Photo by Luis Villasmil on Unsplash
