Procrastination
It’s honestly hilarious that it’s taken me a solid year, maybe two, to finally turn this from a bunch of bullet points, statements, and random word salad into a readable article. Not because I’ve been putting it off, though that’d be an easy excuse, but because I kept asking myself, “will this even resonate with anyone else?”
I wasn’t procrastinating, just second-guessing if my method would make sense or if it would even matter. Eventually, I hit that point where I said, “fuck it.” Sometimes you’ve just got to throw it out there and hope it reaches whoever needs to hear it. So, here it is.
The Truth
Let’s break down why you keep putting things off and, more importantly, how to stop. Most of us have been taught that procrastination is a bad habit, something that happens because you’re lazy, lack self-discipline, or just don’t care enough to follow through. Whether it's avoiding that gym session, putting off an important project, or neglecting something you've been meaning to get to for weeks, the assumption is always the same: you’re just not trying hard enough.
This idea has been ingrained in us for years. From teachers to self-help gurus, the message is clear, procrastination is a sign of weakness. They tell you it’s about poor time management, distractions, or maybe even a short attention span. It’s treated as a flaw to be fixed, like a mental roadblock between you and productivity.
The Why
I’ve spent the majority of my adult life in high-risk, non-permissive environments where strict rules were the norm. When you’re in situations like that, procrastination becomes your only real form of rebellion. It’s the easiest way to push back when you don’t have the luxury of openly resisting. Everything else is locked down tight, but delaying something, even just a little, gives you that small sense of control, that one thing that’s still in your hands. It’s a subtle middle finger to the constraints around you.
This mindset is incredibly common among military members and corporate professionals alike. When you’re boxed in by rules, hierarchy, and deadlines that leave no room for autonomy, procrastination becomes the quiet, universal protest. It’s a small but powerful way to reclaim some freedom when everything else is dictated by external forces. In both military life and the corporate grind, where stepping out of line isn’t an option, putting things off becomes the one rebellious act you can get away with.
So, if you’re serious about ending procrastination, don’t treat it like a character flaw. Don’t label yourself “lazy.” That’s missing the point. The real question to ask is, why do I feel forced into this? What’s making you feel trapped or obligated in the first place? Because once you understand that, you realize you’re not actually bound by most of the things you think you are. You can choose to do or not do almost anything, and when you stop treating every task like a prison sentence, the resistance disappears.
Here’s the secret: you are free.
You can walk away from any situation. You can say no to anything. You don’t have to go to work tomorrow, you don’t have to send that email, and you don’t have to do anything. There are consequences, sure, but the point is you have a choice. Once you internalize that, you stop procrastinating. The minute you realize you don’t have to do something is the moment you can actually choose to do it. And when it’s your choice, it’s easier to get it done.
Stop thinking of procrastination as a symptom of laziness or a failure of willpower. It’s about autonomy. It’s your brain trying to claim back control over your time and energy. The problem isn’t the task itself; the problem is the feeling of being controlled, the idea that you’re doing something because someone else expects it or because some external authority dictates it.
Once you strip away that nonsense, you start moving forward. You start doing things because you choose to, not because you feel obligated or boxed in by the expectations of others. The moment you stop treating yourself like a cog in the machine, the whole dynamic shifts. You’re not stuck anymore. You’re in control.
You’ve got one life. If you spend it locked into the cycle of doing things you resent, things you feel forced into, you’re never going to break free of procrastination. Stop acting like a servant to obligations that don’t even align with what you want. You don’t owe your time or energy to anyone or anything unless you decide it’s worth it. And once you grasp that; You’ll find that most of the things you’ve been putting off suddenly seem a lot less daunting.
At the end of the day, procrastination isn’t about laziness. It’s about control. It’s about pushing back when life feels like it’s calling the shots. But here’s the thing: you’re always in charge, whether you see it or not. Every decision is yours. Once you accept that, procrastination loses its grip. You stop waiting, and you start acting on your terms.
So, what’s really stopping you?
What do I do now?
The time is never perfect, and you don’t need permission to move forward. The life you want, the things you’re capable of achieving—they’re right there, waiting for you to stop making excuses and get after it. It’s not about filling your day with busywork. It’s about taking action where it matters. That’s where your energy belongs.
As Seneca said, “It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.” Every day you put off what you know you should be doing, you’re wasting that time. We live by the phrase carry the fire. It’s a reminder to keep that inner drive alive, to push through the obstacles, and to take ownership of your journey. In ancient times, fire was survival, progress, and hope. To carry the fire means to hold onto that spark, to keep moving forward no matter how tough the path gets.
So, carry the fire. Take that energy and direct it at what actually matters. You’re not stuck, and you never were. You have the freedom to choose, to act, and to live with purpose. Don’t waste another second waiting for the right time. Take the reins, and get moving.