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Today’s topic is on procrastination.

It’s probably safe to say that we have all procrastinated, if not, we still do.

Telling ourselves “I will do it tomorrow.” Putting things off. Waiting for the right time, the right mood, or waiting for a better version of ourselves to show up and handle it for us.

So today is about what procrastination really is, why we do it, what it’s costing us, and most importantly how to break the pattern.

Procrastination is the act of delaying something you know you should be doing, not because you can’t do it, but because you don’t feel like doing it.

At its core Procrastination is choosing short term comfort over long term results.

You may be saying “I work better under pressure”. Let me just say that sometimes that feels true. Deadlines can create urgency, and urgency can create focus. But you are not truly thriving under pressure, it’s not peak performance, it’s more like last minute survival.

And procrastinating takes its toll on you mentally and physically; effects that you don’t always notice until you are in recovery, until you start breaking the habit, because when you are in it, it just feels normal. But it’s not.

It drains your energy, and not because you are doing too much, but because you are carrying all that mental weight of things left undone, and that’s exhausting!

It shows up as anxiety- that lingering feeling that something is hanging over you.

Then you get irritable -because you are never fully at ease.

Then you feel guilty because you know what needs to be done-and it’s not getting done.

And the hardest part, and this really affects you, you can never fully relax. Even in your down time- there is that voice constantly saying “ get up and do the thing”

So, energy, anxiety, irritability, guilt and relaxation all slowly take their piece of your mind and body. That’s the cost. Is this how you want to feel every day?

There are other areas in life where procrastination becomes costly and the consequences are much bigger.

· First is your health:- Ignoring symptoms- delaying checkups- putting off exercise or nutritional changes you need.

· Relationships- avoiding important conversations, delaying apologies, and not addressing issues.

· Finances- bills, budgeting, and future financial planning- Wills, trusts, Life insurance-

· And opportunities- This is a big one! The call you didn’t make or return- The idea you didn’t act on-waiting too long to start something.

These are moments where procrastination doesn’t just delay progress it can change outcomes- the longer you wait, the fewer options you have- and sometimes they don’t come around twice.

Remember this..

The more you tell yourself you are a procrastinator, the more you believe it- it becomes a part of your identity- and then it becomes a cycle you will keep repeating.

So change your story.

you are not someone who waits.

You are someone who starts.

Procrastination is something you have to learn to master before it becomes the assassin of your dreams.

If you don’t learn to master it- Fear will step in. It will cloud your thinking and will convince you to wait- but if you keep waiting- you don’t move.

Have the courage to start now, even if you just start small.

So decide.

Start.

And move forward.

Enjoy!

Joanne Demers

The Aging Mask- A Lifestyle Medicine Podcast

(949)236-1529

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