You’re Not Procrastinating. You’re Scared.
💣 F-Bomb Blog Series #5
What’s actually happening when you sit down to do something important?
Your brain scans for threat. Sometimes ‘Fear’ wears comfy sweats and whispers, “Maybe later.”
I catch myself in sometimes when I sit down to write these blogs.
Some days, the cursor blinks…and so do I.
Afraid you won’t like it.
Afraid you won’t think it’s worth your time..
Afraid you’ll decide it’s not relevant, and that’ll confirm my worst suspicion: maybe I’m not either.
And listen, I know better. I’ve built a career on pushing through change, chasing big goals, and helping others do the same. But fear is sneaky. It doesn’t always show up as panic. Sometimes it whispers, “Not now.”
We call it procrastination.
But what it really is? Fear in disguise.
The Brain Science Behind Your Stalling
Here’s what’s actually happening: when you sit down to do something important, like writing, launching, applying, reaching out… your brain scans for threat. That’s the amygdala’s job. It’s trying to keep you alive. It’s great at protecting you from lions, not so great at distinguishing Lions from to-do Lists.
If your brain senses potential for embarrassment, failure, or rejection - it fires a freeze response: a full-body “meh” that makes laundry suddenly feel urgent and your big idea feel very skippable.
I can’t be the only one who randomly decides to clean up my office, take a load to Goodwill, or search for a new recipe for dinner during my workday
You’re Not Lazy. You’re Paralyzed by Fear.
Let’s be clear: you’re not broken, unmotivated, or bad at adulting. You’re just a human with a nervous system that’s trying to keep you safe. That’s not an excuse, but it is an explanation.
And once you name it, you can start sneaking past it.
Tactical Trick: Outsmart the Fear Brain
Forget “Just do it.” Instead, try these gentler brain hacks:
The Just 5-Minutes Trick: Set a timer and commit to just five minutes. Tell your brain, We’re not doing the whole thing, we’re just peeking.
Name the Fear: Literally write it down: I’m afraid this idea will flop and everyone will know I’m a fraud. (Spoiler: they won’t.)
Break it Smaller: Instead of “write project plan,” try “open laptop” → “type one sentence.” Remember - You’re not lazy, you’re overloaded.
The Freeze Breaker
We don’t get unstuck with willpower, (you’ll end up beating yourself up), we get moving with micro-momentum. One tiny act breaks the fear loop.
So, what could you do right now that’s smaller than your fear, but still a move forward?
Open the file
Text the person
Jot the idea
Send the email
Organize your thoughts on paper
Write the awkward first line
Reality is, you’re not procrastinating.
You’re protecting yourself.
So let’s just show your brain there’s nothing to be afraid of. Start small. (she says as she decides to hit send on this post)
Next up in the F-Bomb series: Fear of Losing Control.
When life gets unpredictable, fear grabs the wheel, and suddenly we’re overplanning, overthinking, and trying to control everything in sight.
But what if the grip is what’s hurting us?
In F-Bomb #6, I’ll unpack how fear disguises itself as control, and how loosening that grip might be the key to your next breakthrough.
Stay tuned. 💣