Procrastination as a Compass: Turning Hesitation Into Honest Direction

What if procrastination isn’t the villain—what if it’s the message you’ve been ignoring? We take a candid look at delay as data, using real numbers, personal routines, and iconic stories to ask a sharper question than “how do I stop?”—namely, “what is this delay trying to tell me?” From a weekly publishing commitment that survives low-motivation days to the feeling of time bending in flow, we unpack why joy, meaning, and memory shape whether you act or stall. You’ll hear how to distinguish empty entertainment from real enjoyment, and why that difference determines whether your evenings restore you or quietly rob your future.

We also explore context: sometimes “procrastination” isn’t avoidance at all—it’s alignment after you’ve already reached a milestone. Other times, it’s a flare pointing to fear of failure, judgment, or even success. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s early Mr. Universe loss shows what happens when you delay unglamorous details like posing, symmetry, and nutrition—and how a focused return can flip resistance into resilience. Robin Williams reminds us that even the brightest talents face inner battles with avoidance. These stories strip shame from the process and turn hesitation into a teacher.

If your dream still fits, you don’t need a pep talk—you need a system that makes starting small inevitable. Write your why and put it on your wall. Lower the bar to five minutes and protect consistency over intensity. If the dream no longer fits, free that energy and redirect it to what truly lights you up. Either way, the signal of procrastination helps you choose with honesty and move with purpose. Subscribe, share this conversation with a friend who needs momentum today, and tell us: what’s the smallest step you’ll take before the day ends?

Chapters

• 0:00 Procrastination By The Numbers
• 2:10 Commitment vs. The Urge To Delay
• 4:30 Flow, Joy, And The Clock Metaphor
• 6:30 Enjoyment vs. Empty Entertainment
• 8:50 Success Context And “Is It Really Procrastination?”
• 11:00 Dreams, Purpose, And Honest Self-Check
• 14:20 Robin Williams And Arnold: Resistance To Resilience
• 17:20 When Delay Becomes Data: Two Choices
• 19:30 Choose Alignment, Start Small, Keep Going
• 21:30 Key Lessons Recap And Community Invite

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:00

I found this beautiful image on goalscaling.com that references a study, guys, indicating that 21% of people procrastinate daily. That we have also 40% of people rarely procrastinate, and 22% of people often procrastinate, 27% of people sometimes procrastinate. So at the end of the story, we have approximately 84% of people were generally procrastinate, okay? Including me, probably sometimes. While only 16% of people never do. I really believe in this study. Personally, since March 2023, I have committed to releasing a weekly episode every Wednesday at 11 o'clock Amsterdam time. Okay, despite the problems, despite delays on my schedule. The truth is that I have not given up on that. The truth is that I was always in time, you know, at the end of the story. However, I must admit that even after all this time, there are days when I think, oh my god, I don't want to do this today. You know. Actually, before I was writing this episode, I found myself thinking, I don't want to do this. I just want to rest, maybe play video games, or watch, you know, something instead. You have no idea, guys, how many times I say, okay, I can just do this tomorrow. I can just do this another time, I can record another week. But at the end, I always follow through, I always go forward. What is the reason? Why? Because I enjoy what I do, simply. In fact, did you know that the feeling of procrastination can actually help you discover what you like and especially what you don't like it? You probably didn't know that, but that's what we are going to talk about today. Hi guys, my name is Fabio from Journey to Success and welcome. Today we will introduce the topic of procrastination and uh its impact on uh you know, achieving dreams, your dreams, and we're going to dive deep into also the psychology behind procrastination, discussing common triggers and emotional responses that lead to avoidance. But before going forward, as always, please subscribe, guys. Alright, so I know this is the right direction to lead you, to drive you, to guide you towards your journey to success. Let's get started, right? As always. So today I want to share my experience with you. I am a person who engages in activities mostly when they are stimulating and generally make me happy. Okay. It's not always like that, unfortunately, because I have a little bit of FOMO, maybe more than a little bit, so sometimes I just go forward even if I don't like something. But the truth is that I recognize when I like something, and I also especially recognize that where when I procrastinate is a sign for me that evidently I don't like that particular thing. Okay. You know, if you ever watch a movie or play video games or had a conversation with a friend and notice how time can either fly or put you out your focus, you know. In my case, I can uh see this, let's say this metaphorical meta metaphorical clock in front of me, as if I were in Alice in Wonderland, you know what I mean? Where the ends of the clock are rising forward, you know, breaking the barriers of time and space. Like I'm so in the flow, I truly enjoy these moments. I I'm I'm in my flow. I enjoy. Time passes by easily and quickly, okay. On the other hand, when I'm not enjoying something, time seems to be very slow, you know. So making again the the example of the clock looks like these hands never moves as they should. Something more like clock. Something very, very slow, you know. I don't know what is your your perception with my episode with my podcast, but yeah, everyone has his perception about it, I guess. So I believe this is a powerful realization that many of you might relate to, you know. So when you do something you love, procrastination, guys, feels like mirage, you know. It might show up occasionally, but the memory of past enjoyment is so strong that encourages you to dive back in, okay? So you think to yourself, something like, let's do this again, because it it brings me joy. You know that it brings you joy. So there is no waste of time when you engage in something you enjoy and can cherish in your memory, okay? Some might say, Okay, Fabiozo, I enjoy scrolling on TikTok. So, what does it mean? Uh it means that if I enjoy four hours, it's it's still good? No, it's not good. Unfortunately, it's not that simple. Enjoyment should lead to positive and impactful memories that list, otherwise it's not truly beneficial, okay, in my opinion. But on the other hand, if you need to do something meaningful that will bring you value in the future, but instead you scroll four hours on social media, then spend more hours on YouTube and let it go out with friends every day partying, then uh then it's a problem. Okay, there is nothing wrong with spending time with friends, of course, watching YouTube or browsing social media. But if these activities replace working towards future achievements, then we're talking about procrastination. And it's not good, of course. Procrastination can be subjective as well. For example, if I'm gonna make this extreme example, right? If Arnold Schwarzenegger were to spend hours out with friends, uh, let's say Silverstor Stallone, who was more of a rival at that time, but it's okay. And also at the same time, you know, scroll through social media, maybe watching uh Anatoly, I don't know if you know Anatoly. How can you say he's procrastinating? You cannot say. He has been a president, an actor, a bodybuilder, you know, has a net worth of 1.2 billion of dollars. He deserves to enjoy however he wants, you know. However, if you have a significant purpose in your life and you know you are not under Schwarzenegger today, then you are likely to be procrastinating, as I do as well sometimes. It's actually fascinating because procrastination can manifest differently depending on where you are in your life. Okay? Sometimes what appears to be procrastination is not, because you may have already achieved what you wanted. It's perfectly valid to do whatever you want to do and as much as you like to do, especially if you know if you achieved whatever you want to achieve in your life. Procrastination in the context of achieving a dream can be seen as a signal to understand what you truly enjoy doing in life, okay? Because we're talking about achieving our dreams. And these dreams can be very significant. Maybe you dream of having a child, and despite the struggle and the challenges presented by Dr. Advice, we will do everything you can do, you know, to make it happen, even if it's exhausting. You might also dream of becoming an architect, knowing that you have to dive into subjects like math and you don't like it. No matter how difficult it may be, you will work through it because that's part of reaching your goals, you know. Or you might want to become a singer because it has been your vocation since childhood. However, the point is that when we discuss our dreams, we must also consider the feelings surrounding procrastination. And here it presents an important question. Do I truly want this? Okay, it was my dream, okay? But what about now? If I really if I really want to pursue my dream, right, why am I procrastinating? So allow yourself to be honest. And don't feel guilty about your answer, okay? If you decide to achieve something in your life, you won't let procrastination hold you back. However, first you have to understand if your purpose is still the same as it was years ago. Because otherwise, guys, what was a miracle such as procrastination can become something real. And if it does, then you know you will feel overwhelmed, frustrated, burnout, etc. etc. Because you don't get energy from something that you no longer want. Okay, we always talk about energy in this podcast. However, I also find that 92% of people, like I said a few episodes ago, never achieve their dreams. Okay, and this often happens because they pursue paths they do not enjoy and procrastinate on their true inspiration. But there are also people who do want to achieve their dreams yet. But unfortunately, they are held back by friendship, friendships, families, mindset issues, their own actions, leading them to procrastinate, you know. An example is uh Robin Williams. Before reaching the pitch, the peak of success, of his success, he struggled with parting and substance abuse often as a form of procrastination, guys. And this was particularly relevant in the 1960s during the EP movement, you know, a time when such strangles were less openly discussed. And this is a reminder, a reminder that even those who seem successful can face their own battles with procrastination. Okay. Also, the same Arnold, the Arnold Schwarzenegger we talked before, he competed in the Mr. Universe competition in London in 1966, marking his first international contest. But he lost. He lost to Chester Yorton, a more experienced bodybuilder. And Arnold later admitted that he had underestimated the competition and did not train as effectively or with the focus required. You know, he relied on blood strength, long hours in the gym, and still he procrastinated on mastering essential details such as posing techniques, muscle symmetry, nutrition, crucial factors at the elite level. And he admitted, guys, he admitted he was crying in the room, and then he didn't want to see anyone for days, you know. But what happened the following year for Arnold Schwarzenegger? In 1967, at the age of 20, Arnold won the Mr. Universe amateur title, becoming guys the youngest winner at the time. Okay. But why did this happen? How was it possible? It's possible because if you recognize the sense of procrastination, you can understand not only whether you truly enjoy something, but also when you are procrastinating because you fear losing something. So at the end of the story, guys, you essentially have two choices. Okay, give up completely because the grief is too much that you cannot afford anymore, or come back stronger. In this case, procrastination is valuable as gold. The moment that you come back stronger, right? And in helping you better understand your dream and achieve it. So, what can you do with this valuable goldish procrastination dust that you have in your hand? What you can you do? Will you spend it on a life that doesn't belong to you, or will you invest it in your dream future? The choice is up to you, of course. I could spend hours discussing your triggers, scrolling through social media instead of studying, spending too much time on your phone instead of working, chatting over coffee in the office instead of finishing your project, or the classic one, talking with a gym friend for 20 minutes instead of doing your weights training, you know. But the real issue, so the reality is not about how to avoid these distractions. I mean, for that you can read a lot of articles. It's more about whether you truly enjoy what you do, okay? That's the core of it. If I really want to become a Mr. Universe, I won't waste time. If I truly want to lose weight, I won't eat the carrot cake my sister brought me before. Okay. You need to be honest with yourself. Do you generally want to stop procrastinating? Okay. That's a yes, fine. If so, why not choose something that you really like? Okay. Start with the the end in mind. What brings you joy? Why do you want to achieve your goals? Please write down, write down your answer and uh print it out and stick stick it on your wall. Trust me, procrastination will still be there, waiting for you for your first weak sign, but it it won't overcome your purpose, okay? If your purpose is strong enough, nothing can defeat it. So for everyone who wants to achieve their dreams, as well as for those who simply need to work to survive each day for reasons we cannot judge. I also encourage you, just this is just a small tip, I encourage you to start with small, achievable steps as well. So take one small step at a time, that's very important, and go forward. And trust me, you can accomplish great things in this way. Sometimes doing less can lead to achieving more. You'll be surprised by the the great results that come from this approach, truly. So this is my final piece of advice for you. Now let's wrap up before closing this episode. So, what do we talk about today? First of all, we started by acknowledging a simple but powerful true. Almost everyone procrastinates, basically. So, according to that study we mentioned, so the study I mentioned before, 84% of people delay tasks in some way, whether daily, often, or sometimes, and the only 60% of people almost never do. That means procrastination is not flow or a personal failure, guys. It's more a universal human experience. Okay, so the real question is not how do I stop procrastinating? The real question is more like, what is my procrastination trying to tell me? It's more that. Because behind every delay, guys, there is often something deeper. Sometimes it's fear, fear of failure, you know, fear of judgment, or even fear of success. Or at times it's a lack of connection or joy in what we are doing. We are far more likely to take action when something feels meaningful, you know, exciting or aligned with who we are. So that's also an important point to highlight. And we also talk about how procrastination can actually become a powerful teacher, okay? It can reveal whether your goal still makes sense for the person you are today. Maybe you are resisting some something because your dream has evolved, you know? Or maybe that resistance is just discomfort on the road to grow. We don't know that. Either way, it's worth pay attention to, okay? So remember that procrastination, it's it's a good signal to understand what you really want to do in your life. And uh we looked at real examples as well. So people like Arnold Schwarzenegger, who once procrastinated on perfecting his craft and lost the Mr. Universe competition, only to return stronger and win it the following year. And he sort of reminds us that procrastination is not the end of the road. It's often the break, the pause before a breakthrough, you know. Then there is Robbie Williams as well, whose strangles showed how even the most talented and successful people can face internal battles with avoidance, with distraction and self-doubt. So these stories, guys, remind us that everyone, no matter how accomplished, has to learn how to turn resistance into resilience, okay. And one of the most important messages today is this one. If you truly enjoy what you do, procrastination loses its grip. Well, you when you love what you do, guys, even the hard days become part of the journey, okay? The memory of past enjoyment, that feeling of being in your flow, you know, becomes stronger, stronger than the temptation to quit. Okay, that's what I learned. That's what I learned during uh these years. But it's also okay if you realize that something no longer brings you joy, okay? Dreams change, purposes evolve. The key is to be honest with yourself. Ask something like, Do I still want this? So if the answer is yes, commit to it, okay? If the answer is no, have the courage to redirect your energy towards something that genuinely lights you up, okay? Because at the end of the day, at the end of the story, guys, procrastination is not your enemy. It's a signal. A signal that invites you to look deeper. A signal that invites you to reconnect with what truly matters, you know, and to take action from a place of purpose rather than pressure. So as we close this episode, I want to leave you with this though. Start small, but start today, okay? Write down what brings you joy. Remind yourself why your dream matters and put that somewhere you can see every day, basically. Because procrastination will always be there, waiting for that first moment of weakness, you know. But if your purpose is strong enough, nothing can defeat it. Whether your dream is to build a business, write a book, start a podcast, simpler life with more intention. Doesn't matter, just take one step, step by step, okay? Just one. You don't have to climb the wall mountain today. Consistency is what builds greatness. So take a breath, trust yourself, and keep moving, okay? That's what you need. Because your journey, guys, the journey to success doesn't begin tomorrow, it begins right now, step at a time. And um, yeah. Now I want to hear from you. How do you stay committed to your dreams when um procrastination tried to hold you back, guys? What helps you take action even on the days when uh you would rather give up or put things off? Send me a message, share your story as always, or connect with me on Soupstack. I would love to hear how you turn hesitation into momentum and purpose. And if you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to subscribe, of course, so you never miss an update. But more importantly, share this episode with a friend who might need that little reminder the dreams to move forward on their own. Okay, we move them forward one step at a time, so it's about us. Thank you so much for being here on journey to success. And remember, every time you choose to take action, you're proving to yourself that your dream is worth it. Together, we're not just talking about success, guys, we're building it moment by moment with courage and joy. I'll see you in the next episode, guys. Cheers.