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So, there it sits in your inbox, all unopened and taunting you like a Maccy D’s takeout. You know it’s there, a little piece of digital anxiety. Maybe it’s a project update, an important email, or the numbers you’ve been avoiding. It’s also probably on your call sheet, glaring at you like a nagging reminder of unfinished business. Or scribbled on your never ending to do list, whispering at you to take a look.

But what do you do? You procrastinate. You delay. You tell yourself that you’re just not ready to dive in yet. The classic rationalisation! As Seneca would say, this is what all fools do. You could tackle it today, after all, Marcus Aurelius himself would surely encourage you to do just that. But once again, you convince yourself that you’ll do it tomorrow.

Let’s be real here. Why do we do this? Why does this small, seemingly insignificant task morph into an insurmountable wall, a mental hurdle we’re too scared to jump over? Sure, it’s easy to think of reasons to postpone. The world can be chaotic, and who has the time to deal with everything right now? But deep down, we know this procrastination isn’t helping. If anything, it just makes our lives more complicated.

The Illusion of Procrastination

Here’s the kicker: it’s not going to get any easier later. In fact, it might not even be that hard right now. That’s the irony of the whole situation. When you finally choke down that anxiety and open that dreaded email or complete that annoying task, you often realise that it wasn’t as bad as you thought. Sometimes it’s just a simple message saying they need more time to think it over, or you find out you overthought the numbers for nothing.

Why did we waste all that mental energy worrying about it? The fear we conjure in our minds often exceeds the reality of the task itself. And that’s exactly where Stoicism steps in, a philosophical practice that teaches us to face our fears, to accept discomfort, and to act wisely, regardless of the resistance we feel inside.

Embracing Stoicism: The Power of Action

What Stoicism trains us to do is develop the willpower to bite the bullet. It’s about achieving that moment where you commit to “1, 2, 3, jump.” You acknowledge the discomfort and the fear and do it anyway. You train yourself not only with cold plunges and lifting heavy weights but also with confronting difficult conversations and starting on that daunting project you’ve been dreading.

When you practice this way, you start to build an override switch in your brain, a powerful mechanism that allows you to push through the channels of resistance, the excuses that try to convince you to wait, and those lazier impulses that scream for a break. It’s like a muscle that needs to be flexed, or a habit that needs consistent nurturing.

Over time, you mould yourself into someone who doesn’t just talk about doing the thing but actually does it now, not later. You become the kind of person who rather than fretting over tasks, just tackles them head on and moves on.

The Certainty of Now

Let’s take a moment to think about what “now” actually means. Right now is real. It’s tangible. It’s here. And while the future may hold endless possibilities, it’s just as filled with uncertainty. Tomorrow, next week, or next month? Those are just illusions we tell ourselves to put off action.

When you hesitate, waiting for the perfect moment to act, you’re giving power to a lie. Every moment you put something off makes it harder to take action later. There’s truth in that, and it’s compelling. Time doesn’t wait for us to find our courage or muster up the energy to tackle our responsibilities.

Building a Habit of Action

But how do you start flipping this script? How do you get to a point where procrastination is no longer a go to response? It boils down to cultivating the habit of action, and it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Each small step counts. Here are a few practical strategies to help you get started:

1. Set a Timer: Give yourself a limited amount of time to work on that task. Maybe it’s just 10 or 15 minutes. Often, just getting started is the hard part, and once you begin, you may find it’s easier to keep going.
2. Break it Down: If a task feels too large or overwhelming, break it down into bite sized pieces. Focus on just one aspect at a time, and before you know it, you’ll have chewed through that big project before lunch.
3. Accountability: Share your intentions with someone else. Whether it’s a friend, colleague, or family member, having a buddy to check in with can create a sense of accountability that motivates you to act.
4. Apply the Stoic Principle of Control: A significant part of Stoicism is recognising what is within your control. Acknowledge your worry; accept that some things you simply can’t control, and then focus on what you can do. Make small, incremental actions that align with your goals.
5. Mindfulness: Take a moment to reflect when you feel that urge to procrastinate. What emotions are you feeling? What fears are holding you back? Often, mindfulness can reveal the root of your procrastination and help you move forward.

Tackle Resistance

In the end, you must ask yourself: what’s stopping you? What’s the worst that could happen if you opened that email, made that call, or tackled those figures? More often than not, the terror behind procrastination is inflated, a massive balloon filled with anxiety versus the small, unthreatening object it actually represents.

Resistance is a formidable foe, but it is one you can conquer. And every time you choose to face what you dread instead of turning away, you’re reinforcing that override switch we talked about earlier. By doing so, you’re not just responding to a task; you’re creating a more decisive version of your future self.

Trust the Process

One essential belief of Stoicism is understanding that the process is just as important as the result. Taking action now, no matter how small, means you’re engaging with your goals, processing your thoughts, and actively contributing to your life’s narrative. You are the writer of your story, after all.

Yes, you may feel discomfort. You’re probably going to hesitate. But that’s where growth happens. Leaning into discomfort allows you to prosper as you realise your potential, gaining insights that resistance often tries to hide.

Conclusion: Make Today Count

So, hit that “Reply” button. Open that post. Dive into those numbers. Do what you need to do, today. Embrace the notion that now is for certain and later is a lie. Procrastination only amplifies the weight of what you’re avoiding.

You are capable of overcoming these challenges, pushing past your own limits, and rising to the occasion. As the Stoics would have us believe, we hold the power to make changes in our lives, one small leap of faith at a time. Why wait?

Stop putting it off and take action now. Your future self is counting on it.