Procrastination
A Signal for Something Deeper

Procrastination. Just reading the word might make you feel a little uncomfortable—maybe even guilty. It’s a feeling we’ve all wrestled with.

You have a big vision, important goals, and a deep desire to create something meaningful. But some days, despite all your ambition, you find yourself scrolling social media, watching the Netflix series your neighbour recommended, or doing housework you don’t really need to do. You might beat yourself up, question your capabilities, or wonder why it’s so hard to just get started.

But what if procrastination wasn’t the problem? What if it was actually a signal?

Over the next five minutes, I’ll share an alternative way of seeing procrastination, sharing insights from Dr Benjamin Hardy and Dan Sullivan’s book, Who Not How alongside teachings from Abraham Hicks. Together, we’ll explore why procrastination might actually be wisdom in disguise—and how to use it as a powerful tool for growth.

Let’s face it: procrastination is frustrating.

You have a goal that matters deeply to you—whether it’s growing your business, improving your health and fitness, or spending more meaningful time with your family. But instead of moving forward, you find yourself stuck in an endless loop of overthinking and inaction.

Sound familiar? That’s because procrastination triggers some of our deepest fears:

And so, instead of making meaningful progress, you stay in a cycle of avoidance. The worst part? You feel like you’re falling short, even when you know you’re capable of more.

But what if procrastination isn’t a flaw, but rather a signal pointing you toward something important?

A New Perspective: Procrastination as Wisdom

The philosophical teachings of Abraham Hicks as well as the more science and business orientated background of Hardy and Sullivan offer transformative perspectives: procrastination isn’t about laziness or lack of discipline—it’s about alignment and clarity.

1.Procrastination as Inner Wisdom

Hardy and Sullivan argue that procrastination is a signal. It’s your inner self saying, “This goal is important, but I don’t have the right resources to achieve it right now.”

More often than not, procrastination happens because you’re asking the wrong question: “How do I do this?” Instead, they suggest asking, “Who can help me with this?”

Think of procrastination as a spotlight shining on the areas where you need support. It’s not a sign of failure—it’s an opportunity to collaborate, delegate, or seek guidance. By shifting from How to Who, you unlock momentum and reduce the overwhelm that fuels procrastination.

2.Procrastination as Resistance

Abraham Hicks takes a slightly different but complementary angle. They view procrastination as resistance—a misalignment between your energy (or one could say state of mind) and your desired outcome. Instead of forcing action from a place of resistance, The Teachings of Abraham encourages you to pause, reconnect with your real desire, and move into alignment, which will lead to inspired action.

In their framework, action taken from alignment feels light, joyful, and inspired. On the other hand, action taken from resistance feels heavy and forced—and often leads to subpar results. Procrastination, then, is simply a sign that you’re not in the right state to act yet.

The Paradox of Procrastination

So, how do we reconcile these two perspectives? By recognising that procrastination isn’t something to fight—it’s something to listen to.

Procrastination is a signal, not a problem. Yet the signal can mean different things:

Actionable Steps: Turning Procrastination Into Progress

Here’s how you can use these teachings to shift from stuck to aligned action:

1.Pause and Reframe

The next time you notice yourself procrastinating, don’t beat yourself up. Instead, ask yourself:

Practical Example: If you find yourself procrastinating on a Monday morning, rather than sit there and judge yourself about your lack of discipline, take it as a signal. It’s just feedback and nothing personal about you.

2.Find Your Who

Practical Example: If you’re procrastinating on preparing a big presentation, pause and ask: “Is there someone who could help me design these slides so I can focus purely on the content” Instead of forcing yourself to push through alone, reframe procrastination as a nudge to collaborate. Make it easy.

3.Listen to Your Intuition

If procrastination feels heavy, step away and focus on something else. Plan the task for when you’re optimised for it.

Practical Example: For me, creative work like writing content is a waste of time in the evening. There’s no point forcing it. I’m most productive in the morning. Instead of forcing myself to write at night, I shift the task to when I’m naturally aligned with the task.

4.Reconnect with the Outcome and Follow The Good Feeling

If the outcome doesn’t inspire you, maybe you don’t want it. Are you doing it for the sake of it or is this something you really want? Sometimes it’s not so inspiring, but the cost of not doing it is far greater than doing it.

Practical Example: I’ve been procrastinating on my personal tax return, but reminding myself of the peace of mind (and avoiding late penalties!) has reignited me to get it done. Getting it done feels better than the stress of later, the judgement of not having done it or late fees. Follow the better feeling.

5.Take One Small Step

Start small. Even the tiniest aligned action can break the cycle of procrastination. If you are not in flow after a consistent few steps…then it’s time to dig deeper into the signal (point 1)

Practical Example: Instead of aiming for a full workout, go for a 10-minute walk or do 5 push-ups. Small steps build momentum. Once you enjoy the initial workout, you naturally feel better.

Procrastination as a Gift

Procrastination isn’t your enemy—it’s your teacher. It’s a signal that something needs to shift, whether it’s the way you’re approaching a goal or the energy you’re bringing to it.

By reframing procrastination as wisdom, you move from self-judgment to self-awareness. You learn to collaborate, align, and act with purpose. And in doing so, you transform procrastination from a roadblock into a catalyst for growth.

Reflection Question:
What’s one task you’ve been procrastinating on, and how can you use these insights to approach it differently this week?

Take the smallest, most aligned step forward. It might just change everything.

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