Why Procrastination Isn’t Your Fault

Happy Sunday everyone,

Did you know that fear of failure lights up the same part of the brain as physical pain?

When faced with the possibility of failing, your brain can trigger the same response as getting hurt.

No wonder we avoid hard things.

In today’s email:

1. Why Procrastination Ins’t Your Fault & exactly what to do about it.

2. Low Cost CO2 Absorbers & how atmospheric moisture could be the answer.

3. How To Eliminate Anxiety & why you don't want peace of mind, you want peace from mind.

POWER SURGE

Why Procrastination Isn’t Your Fault

I used to sit at my desk, staring at a blinking cursor, wondering why I couldn’t just start.

I’d planned everything out, knew exactly what I needed to do, yet felt frozen.

It always ended the same way—I’d spiral into self-blame, thinking I’m lazy or undisciplined.

But what if procrastination was never about laziness? 

Contrary to popular opinion, research shows procrastination stems from anxiety or fear, not from a lack of ambition.

Ironically, it hits hardest when you care deeply about the outcome. Anxiety about not doing a task "perfectly" can paralyze you.

Suddenly, that big project feels like you're holding your entire self-worth in your hands. No wonder getting started feels impossible.

I used to torture myself over assignments, convinced my hesitation was weakness, and it took me a long time to realize I was just scared.

If beating ourselves up worked, wouldn't we all be productive machines by now?

Confusion plays a role, too.

Most of us struggle with executive functioning, e.g. breaking big tasks into clear, actionable steps.

When facing something huge and vague like "start a business" or "run a marathon," our brains freeze. How do you even start?

The truth is, that tasks become infinitely easier when structured.

I used to optimise toward the final goal and end up overwhelmed and confused, when in reality the first step was to just grab my laptop and make a plan.

It doesn’t help that we’re all terrible at empathizing with ourselves. Studies have shown on countless occasions that we’re far kinder to our friends and family than we are to ourselves.

We assume procrastination is proof of personal flaws - but what happens when we replace judgment with curiosity?

Like changing “I can’t do this" to "what exactly is holding me back?"

You're not lazy or broken. You're human.

Procrastination isn’t the diagnosis, it’s the symptom. 

Every time you procrastinate, it’s something deeper is at play.

Anxiety, perfectionism, overwhelm; these barriers aren't moral failings, they're human struggles. The good news is, you can tackle them one small step at a time.

Next time you catch yourself frozen, don't default to self-blame. Instead, get curious. Take a breath, identify your barrier, and simplify the first step.

Procrastination isn't your fault - but now that we’re burdened with the knowledge of why, that’s one less excuse to hide behind.

LOOK INTO THE LIGHT

Here’s 3 Great Things You Missed Recently:

#1 New No-Code Platform Helps Biomedical Scientists Analyze Big Data Easily

• Mount Sinai researchers created a visual tool to simplify complex biomedical data analysis.

• The drag-and-drop interface allows non-coders to build custom workflows and run analytics.

• This can speed up biomedical research, especially for smaller labs without data specialists.

#2 Northwestern Scientists Develop Low-Cost CO2 Absorbers

• Northwestern engineers created cheap materials that capture CO₂ using humidity changes.

• This ‘moisture swing’ method allows for CO₂ absorption and release without high energy costs.

• It offers a promising, scalable solution to pull carbon from the atmosphere affordably

#3 Recycling Wind Turbines Just Got Smarter

• WSU developed a method to recycle fiberglass wind turbine blades without harsh chemicals.

• Recovered materials were used to create new plastics stronger than the originals.

• This approach solves a major sustainability issue in the renewable energy sector.

PLUGGED IN

Modern Wisdom: “Imagine How Effective You Would Be If You Weren’t Anxious All Of The Time”

"You don't want peace of mind, you want peace from mind"

This episode of the Modern Wisdom podcast featured Naval Ravikant on the topic of anxiety.

The intention and care that went into crafting this conversation is impeccable. From the setup to the questions to the energy in the room - everything felt deeply intentional.

This episode stimulated my mind while speaking to my soul.

Wisdom or Wires

Which Of This Quotes Is AI-generated?

Thank you for reading!

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