This is How to Stop Procrastinating

Amar Pandit , CFA , CFP

Amar Pandit

A respected entrepreneur with 25+ years of Experience, Amar Pandit is the Founder of several companies that are making a Happy difference in the lives of people. He is currently the Founder of Happyness Factory, a world-class online investment & goal-based financial planning platform through which he aims to help every Indian family save and invest wisely. He is very passionate about spreading financial literacy and is the author of 4 bestselling books (+ 2 more to release in 2020), 8 Sketch Books, Board Game and 700 + columns.

November 11, 2025 | 5 Minute Read

I read some interesting thoughts on procrastination in an email from The New Happy. In today’s post, I have reproduced their visual and thoughts and then shared my own thoughts in the context of your work.

“Why do you procrastinate?

It’s not because you’re lazy.

It’s not because you’re flawed.

It’s not because you’re unable to do it.

You’re procrastinating because the task you’re trying to do is bringing up uncomfortable emotions that you really, really want to avoid.

Research on procrastination has found that there are usually three causes, often interrelated:

You are afraid of failing at the task.

The task is unappealing.

The task is overwhelming.

These are all incredibly uncomfortable emotions! Fear, unpleasantness, and uncertainty are all experiences we would prefer to avoid.

This task has become associated with these emotions, leading you to want to run away from it, as far as you can in the opposite direction —where there are hopefully some more positive emotions waiting for you.

Unfortunately, as every procrastinator knows, the farther you run from the task, the more those uncomfortable emotions tend to grow… and grow… and grow… until a simple task can feel downright impossible.

To start breaking the habit of procrastination, here’s what to do.

First, think about what you’re procrastinating on, and what of these three causes might be affecting you most. Then, use the corresponding strategy below.

Fear of failing:

Thoughts like, “How is this going to turn out?” or “What will people think if I mess up?” indicate that you’re afraid of failing. You need to stop worrying about the end result and instead, focus on the task that’s in front of you.

Ask yourself questions like:

“What would success look like on this task today?”

“How can I do a good-enough job on this task?”

“When have I failed in the past, and how did that help me to grow?”

An unappealing task:

Find a way to make the task slightly more enjoyable, bringing with it new, more positive emotions that can help to balance out the unpleasant ones.

 

For example:

Studying? Do it with a friend.

A scary doctor appointment? Focus on the benefit to your health in the long run.

Cleaning your house? Put on your favorite song.

You can even promise yourself a little reward after doing the task. It’s good to celebrate when you do something tough!

The task is overwhelming:

If you are overwhelmed, it is likely that you have set yourself a task that is way too big and ambitious.

If you don’t know how you’ll even begin to take on the task you’ve set for yourself, you will procrastinate on it.

Do yourself a favor by breaking the task into smaller chunks. You don’t have to solve it all today; you just have to take on a small part of it.”

The truth is procrastination isn’t about time. It’s about emotions.

Financial professionals delay big decisions all the time. Not because they don’t know what to do, but because the decision feels overwhelming.

Some hesitate to increase fees, fearing client reactions. Others postpone hiring, worried about making the wrong choice. Many delay investing in growth, unsure of the return. Succession planning? That can wait until it can’t.

Every delay has a cost. Every avoided decision makes the problem worse.

Fear of failing keeps you stuck. You worry about losing clients, about change, about stepping outside your comfort zone. But the truth is, growth comes from doing things that feel uncomfortable at first.

Many financial professionals hesitate to collaborate. They focus on how much the other firm will benefit instead of how much they can grow together. They fear giving up control. They second-guess the potential benefits. But great businesses are built on partnerships, not isolation.

Some worry about going after high-value clients. They stick with the same level of clients because it feels safe. They tell themselves those bigger clients won’t work with them. They convince themselves that high-net-worth clients only go to big firms. But the financial professionals who grow don’t buy into that mindset. They position themselves as skilled world class professionals. They elevate their value. They attract the right people.

Many decisions seem unappealing. The effort seems too much. The process feels draining. But waiting doesn’t make it better. It makes it harder.

Some financial professionals feel overwhelmed. Too many things to do. Too many moving parts. But waiting for the perfect moment is an illusion. There is no perfect moment. There is only action.

The most successful financial professionals don’t let fear, discomfort, or overwhelm stop them. They recognize these feelings and move forward anyway. They take the first step. They build momentum. They act.

Decisions shape the future. The ones you make and the ones you avoid.

So, what’s the one thing you’ve been putting off? What’s the decision you know you need to make but haven’t?

Maybe today is the day to stop waiting.

Maybe today is the day to move forward.