the Procrastination trap

Written By Salvatore Iacona

Welcome to "The Procrastination Trap" – Breaking Free from Delay

Hi everyone, and welcome back!

If you’re here, chances are you’ve struggled with procrastination at some point. Maybe you’re procrastinating right now, telling yourself you’ll take action after reading this blog.

And you know what? I get it.

I’ve been there. So many times.

I told myself I wanted to start this website months before I actually did. But every time I thought about it, I found an excuse:

- "I don’t have time today—I’ll do it tomorrow."

- "I need to plan it out better first."

- "Maybe I should wait until I feel more ready."

Days passed. Weeks passed. And guess what? Nothing changed.

I wanted to change my life, but I kept postponing the work it would take. It wasn’t that I didn’t care. It wasn’t that I was lazy. I just kept falling into the same trap:

- I was waiting for the perfect moment.

- I was afraid of failing.

- I was overwhelmed by how much there was to do.

Sound familiar?

Why Do We Procrastinate?

We tell ourselves we’ll start tomorrow. And then tomorrow becomes the next day. And the next. And suddenly, we’ve lost weeks, months, even years.

But procrastination isn’t just about being lazy. It’s about fear, doubt, and resistance.

- Fear of failure (What if I try and it doesn’t work?)

- Fear of change (What if things don’t go the way I expect?)

- Fear of discomfort (Starting something new is hard… maybe I’ll wait until it feels easier.)

- The illusion of time (I have plenty of time, I’ll do it later.)

The truth? Later almost never comes.

If we don’t take action today, we probably won’t take action tomorrow either.

My Personal Struggle with Procrastination

As I mentioned earlier, starting this website was something I postponed for a long time. But that’s not the only thing I’ve procrastinated on.

I’ve postponed important conversations because they felt uncomfortable.

I’ve postponed making decisions because I was afraid of making the wrong one.

I’ve postponed changing my habits because it was easier to stay the same.

One of the biggest struggles I had was starting my fitness journey.

For years, I kept saying:

- "I’ll start working out next Monday."

- "I’ll eat healthier once I finish this pack of junk food."

- "I just need to find the perfect workout plan first."

And every time I postponed it, I felt frustrated with myself. I knew I was capable of more, but I was stuck in a loop of waiting, delaying, overthinking.

Then one day, I asked myself:

- How much longer am I willing to wait?

The answer? No more.

The Science Behind Procrastination

Here’s something crazy: our brains are wired to procrastinate.

The part of the brain responsible for long-term goals (prefrontal cortex) is constantly battling with the part that seeks instant gratification (limbic system).

- That’s why Netflix feels easier than studying.

- That’s why scrolling on your phone feels easier than exercising.

- That’s why we delay things that require effort, even if they are important.

But here’s the trick: The more you resist procrastination, the stronger your discipline becomes.

It’s just like training a muscle—the more you use it, the stronger it gets.

How to Break Free from Procrastination

If you’re tired of putting things off, here’s how you can take control starting today:

1. Stop Waiting for the Perfect Time

There is no perfect time to start. The longer you wait for conditions to be ideal, the more time you lose.

- Action beats waiting.

- Messy progress is better than perfect inaction.

2. Take the First Step—Even If It's Small

One of the biggest reasons we procrastinate is because tasks feel too big or too overwhelming. The trick? Break it down.

Instead of saying: "I need to start my website," say:

- "I will spend 10 minutes brainstorming a name."

- "I will write one paragraph of my first blog post."

- "I will research one platform to build it on."

Once you take one step, the next one feels easier.

3. The 10-Minute Rule – Trick Your Brain into Action

If something feels overwhelming, tell yourself:

- "I will only do this for 10 minutes."

Why? Because once you start, your brain wants to keep going.

It’s called the Zeigarnik Effect—our brains hate leaving things unfinished.

Try it:

- Write 10 minutes of a report.

- Do 10 minutes of exercise.

- Read 10 minutes of a book.

Chances are, you’ll keep going.

4. The “No Zero Days” Rule

A "Zero Day" is a day where you make zero progress toward your goals.

Instead, make a rule:

- Even if it’s small, do SOMETHING every day.

- Even if you can’t write a full page, write one sentence.

- Even if you can’t work out for an hour, do 10 push-ups.

Small actions build momentum.

5. Hold Yourself Accountable

If no one knows about your goal, it’s easy to delay it.

- Tell a friend what you’re working on.

- Set a deadline and commit to it.

- Announce your goal publicly (even if it scares you).

When other people expect you to show up, you’re more likely to take action.

Final Thought: You Have Two Choices

Right now, you have two paths in front of you:

- Path 1: Keep procrastinating. Stay in the same place. Keep making excuses.

- Path 2: Take action. Even if it’s a small step, start moving forward.

The choice is yours.

Procrastination doesn’t take away the difficulty—it just delays it. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes.

So don’t wait for tomorrow. Start today.

Your Challenge: The 24-Hour Action Plan

For the next 24 hours, commit to eliminating procrastination on one important task.

- Choose one thing you’ve been putting off.

- Use the 10-Minute Rule to get started.

- Remove distractions, set a timer, and just do it.

By the end of the day, you’ll feel more accomplished, more in control, and one step closer to your goals.