Procrastination and self-care have a complicated relationship.
I’ve noticed something about myself lately. When life feels heavy, or when I’m overwhelmed by all the “shoulds” of wellness — that’s exactly when I start to procrastinate the most.
Ironically, it’s the habits that could help me feel grounded — like moving my body, washing my face at night, or writing down my thoughts — that I put off first. And then comes the guilt. The old voice that says, “You’re lazy. You’ll never stick to anything.”
But here’s what I’m slowly learning about procrastination and self-care: it’s not always about laziness or lack of discipline. Sometimes, it’s about being scared to start. Sometimes, it’s about believing that if you can’t do it perfectly, it’s not worth doing at all.
Why We Procrastinate the Things That Could Help Us Most
It sounds backward, doesn’t it? We want to feel better, calmer, more connected to ourselves. Yet when it’s time to do the tiny things that lead us there, we delay.
For me, it’s often because I turn simple acts into big expectations. Going for a walk has to become a full workout. Writing a blog post needs to be the best thing I’ve ever written. Doing a little skincare morphs into guilt over not having a seven-step routine.
That pressure is heavy. And it makes even the smallest next step feel daunting.
A Softer Way Through Procrastination
What if we approached procrastination and self-care differently? What if instead of shaming ourselves, we got curious?
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Maybe you’re putting off a walk not because you’re lazy, but because you’re tired and need rest first.
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Maybe you’re skipping your skincare because you’ve made it too complicated.
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Maybe you’re avoiding journaling because you’re afraid of what might come up.
Being gentle with these reasons doesn’t mean we never do the things. It just means we understand them better — and we can start smaller.
Tiny Starts, Even When You Want to Delay
I’ve found that when I let go of the idea of doing it perfectly, I’m more likely to begin at all.
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Instead of “I need to do a full workout,” it becomes, “I’ll stretch for two minutes.”
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Instead of “I have to write the most insightful post,” it becomes, “I’ll jot down three honest sentences.”
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Instead of “I must stick to a flawless routine,” it becomes, “I’ll splash water on my face and call it enough for tonight.”
Small starts are still starts. Often, they break the hold of procrastination without forcing us.
You’re Not Alone If You Delay
If you find yourself delaying the very things that might help you, please know — it’s human. You’re not lazy or broken. You’re navigating old fears, high expectations, and maybe just sheer exhaustion.
And if you’ve been struggling with staying consistent, I wrote a post about that too. You can read it here.
Closing Reflection
Procrastination and self-care have a complicated relationship. We put off what we want most, then feel worse for not doing it. But it doesn’t have to stay that way.
Start small. Lower the bar. Be gentle with the reasons you delay. And keep coming back, even after you pause.
That’s the quiet kind of discipline that actually lasts.