You’re NOT Lazy - Just Stuck in Procrastination-Mode
Gentle Call out: what was your last excuse that you used to postpone something till tomorrow? Was it that you maybe don’t have time? Or not enough motivation? Were you hoping to do it with someone else but they dropped off so you did too? Could you just not be bothered and instead doom-scrolled on your phone liking once again another racoon dancing in a circle?
If yes, then my friend, your self-sabotage type is the Excuse Finder or also called procrastinator. This is the person who, despite having great intentions and big dreams, always seems to find a reason to put things off or avoid taking action.
So, if you’ve ever found yourself procrastinating on something you really want to do, or if you feel like you’re always stuck in a loop of ‘I’ll do it tomorrow,’ then this part two in this series about self-sabotage types is for you. Let’s dig deep into why we develop this habit, how it affects our lives and businesses, and, most importantly, how we can break free from it."
But first, let’s get into more detail as to what exactly is an ‘Excuse Finder’? It’s someone who consistently finds reasons not to take action on things they know are important or beneficial to them. We’re not talking about the occasional ‘I don’t feel like it today.’ This goes deeper. It’s a pattern of behaviour where you avoid tasks, responsibilities, or opportunities that could move you forward.
You might have a big goal, like launching a business, writing a book, or starting a fitness routine. But instead of taking steps toward it, you find yourself saying things like, ‘I’m too busy right now,’ ‘I’ll start when things calm down,’ or ‘I need to do more research before I begin.’ These sound reasonable, right? But they’re often just clever disguises for fear and self-doubt.”
At the root of excuse-finding is often fear. Fear of failure, fear of criticism, fear of not being good enough. We might tell ourselves, ‘If I don’t try, I can’t fail.’ Or, ‘If I don’t put myself out there, no one can judge me.’ It’s a protective mechanism, a way to avoid discomfort or potential disappointment.
But here’s the truth about procrastination: it’s not a time management issue. It’s an emotional regulation issue and very often actually a stress response. We put things off not because we don’t have time, but because we want to avoid the uncomfortable emotions associated with those tasks or because we experience so much stress that has us stuck either in freeze or fight mode. Whether it’s fear, anxiety, or just plain old self-doubt, procrastination is how we cope. We freeze, we distract ourselves by doing all the other things that have nothing to do with our actual goal, and we convince ourselves that now just isn’t the right time.”
So, how do you know if you’re an excuse finder? Here are some tell-tale signs, starting with the obvious:
Procrastination:
You put off important tasks until the last minute or avoid them altogether. It’s not that you don’t want to do them; it’s just that something always seems to get in the way.
And Finding Excuses for Everything:
You’re a master at coming up with reasons why now isn’t the right time. You might say, ‘I’ll start my blog once I’ve perfected my website,’ or ‘I’ll reach out to potential clients once I’ve taken one more course.’ These excuses feel legitimate but are actually just delaying tactics.
But it can also hide behind blaming External Factors:
If something doesn’t work out, it’s always someone else’s fault, or it’s because of circumstances beyond your control. You might say, ‘I couldn’t exercise because my schedule was crazy,’ or ‘My business didn’t grow because the market isn’t right.’ This mindset prevents you from taking ownership of your actions and decisions. It also overlaps with the Victim Player Self-sabotage type which we will dive into later in this series.
And last but not least, Struggling with Consistency:
You have a hard time sticking to habits or routines, especially when they get challenging. You might start with enthusiasm but quickly lose steam when things don’t go perfectly. And you rely on motivation rather than discipline. I actually have a whole episode on this if you would like to dive deeper into that specific topic as well. I will link it below.
But for now, let’s talk about how this affects us and our businesses. Excuse finding can be a major roadblock to success. You might have big dreams of growing your business, becoming more visible, or taking on new projects, but you keep holding yourself back.
For example, let’s say you’ve always wanted to be more visible in your industry. You dream of collaborating with other business owners, going live on social media, or being a guest on podcasts. One day, a business friend invites you to be on her podcast. You’re thrilled! This is exactly what you want. But then, fear creeps in. You start thinking, ‘What if I say the wrong thing? What if I don’t sound knowledgeable enough?’ So, you postpone the interview, again and again, making up excuses about your schedule or needing more time to prepare.
Meanwhile, you see others in your network taking advantage of similar opportunities, growing their visibility, and having fun doing it. You feel left out and frustrated, but you can’t seem to break the cycle. This is where excuse finding really holds us back—it keeps us stuck, always waiting for the ‘perfect time’ that never comes.
Okay, so how do we move past this? How do we stop finding excuses and start taking action? Here are some strategies:
First up Recognise and Challenge Your Fears:
Start by identifying what you’re really afraid of. Is it failure? Rejection? Not being good enough? Once you know what’s holding you back, challenge those fears. Ask yourself, ‘What’s the worst that could happen if I took this action?’ Often, the fear of the unknown is scarier than the reality.
Then Break Tasks into Small Steps:
Big goals can feel overwhelming, making it easy to find excuses to avoid them. Break your goals down into smaller, manageable steps. Instead of saying, ‘I need to launch my business,’ start with, ‘Today, I’ll write down three business ideas.’ Small wins build momentum and confidence.
Next up Create Accountability:
Tell someone about your goals and ask them to check in on your progress. This could be a friend, mentor, or accountability group. Knowing that someone else is watching can motivate you to push through the urge to procrastinate.
With the accountability comes also Setting Clear, Realistic Deadlines: Give yourself a timeframe for completing tasks and stick to it. When you set deadlines, you’re less likely to put things off indefinitely. Be realistic—don’t set yourself up for failure by overloading your schedule.
And when you get started don’t forget to Embrace Imperfection: Remember, done is better than perfect. If you wait for everything to be flawless, you’ll never get anything out there. Give yourself permission to make mistakes and learn from them. The world doesn’t need perfection; it needs your unique voice and perspective.
As you go, keep in mind the Long-Term Benefits: When you catch yourself making excuses, remind yourself of the long-term benefits of taking action. Visualise what achieving your goal will feel like. Let that future vision pull you forward, even when the present moment feels daunting.
With that in mind, what’s one small action you’re going to take today to stop making excuses and start moving forward?
If you seek deep personalised support whilst working through this, you can book a free Discovery call with me by clicking the button below or if you would like to read more about this topic amongst others, I highly recommend diving into my book “And There She Goes Her Way”.
