Procrastination vs Taking Action

Apparently, I’ve been procrastinating about writing my article on procrastination!

I’m fairly health-conscious. I eat well most of the time and walk most days. For a long time, I’ve been meaning to add in some strength and toning exercises. They will help me age well.  I want to be able to live independently and live life with quality for many years to come. And here’s the thing—whenever I actually do them, my body rewards me quickly. I feel stronger, more flexible, more fluid in my movements, and even my clothes fit better.

But here’s what kept happening…

I’d wake up with the best intentions: Today’s the day—I’ll do my routine. I know it by heart now, no YouTube required. But then my brain would chime in: I’ll just do it after my walk and before my shower.

You can probably guess what happens next. I’d finish my walk, feel a little tired, skip straight to the shower, and promise myself I’d “definitely do it tomorrow.” Then came the mental noise—thinking about doing it, feeling guilty for not doing it, and carrying it like background static all day.

Why doing it first matters

Here’s what I’ve learned: there is real science behind tackling important actions early in the day.

• Willpower is like a battery—psychologists Baumeister & Tierney describe it as a limited resource that depletes as the day goes on. The more decisions we make, the more our mental energy drains.
• Morning action beats afternoon procrastination—studies show our prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain responsible for decision-making and self-control) is most active earlier in the day. Translation: mornings are prime time for the tasks we’re most likely to avoid.
• The Zeigarnik effect—our brains keep unfinished tasks alive in the background, which explains why “not doing the thing” takes up more energy than simply doing it.

This morning, I decided to flip the script. I did my strength routine before my walk. The result? Soo much easier. My mind went quiet. I felt a sense of achievement, and most importantly, I didn’t have to think about it again.

Your turn

What about you? What’s the “thing” you’ve been procrastinating on—the one that would move the needle if you just got it done first thing in the morning?

To strengthen your “why,” ask yourself these five questions:

1. What will become possible for me once I take this action consistently?
2. What is the cost of continuing to delay it?
3. How will my future self thank me for starting now?
4. What ripple effect will this action have on other areas of my life?
5. How will it feel to finally quiet the mental noise of procrastination?

A gentle nudge

Procrastination isn’t a flaw—it’s a very human brain trying to protect you from discomfort. But the magic happens when you do the thing anyway, especially early in the day.

So… what’s the one action you’re going to stop delaying and start doing tomorrow morning?