“Why You’re Not Lazy and How to Reframe Procrastination”

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today,” and just rolled your eyes? Maybe you groaned because, deep down, you know your pattern is more like, “Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow!”

Let’s face it: procrastination has a bad reputation. It’s often seen as laziness, a lack of discipline, or even a character flaw… especially for pastors. (Sometimes, it is!) But what if I told you that everything you’ve heard about procrastination isn’t true? What if procrastination isn’t what you think it is?

The Good News About Procrastination

Here’s the good news: procrastination is not a one-size-fits-all problem, and it doesn’t mean you’re lazy or a terrible person. In fact, it might be teaching you something important about yourself.

We tend to beat ourselves up for procrastinating because we assume it’s only about laziness. But what if it’s more complex? Imagine procrastination as a symptom, like a cough. Not all coughs are the same—some come from colds, others from allergies, and still others from something more serious. The same is true for procrastination. It’s a symptom of something deeper, and when we understand what’s behind it, we can address it effectively.

Types of Procrastination: A New Perspective

In this series on different types of procrastination, here are 6 types we’ll explore:

1. Fearful Procrastination – Driven by fear of failure, success, or others’ opinions.
2. Uncertain Procrastination – Caused by lack of clarity about what to do next.
3. Perfectionism Procrastination – Delaying because you feel you can’t do it perfectly.
4. Wisdom Procrastination – Resistance to tasks that don’t align with your skills or passions.
5. Control Procrastination – Putting off tasks as a form of rebellion against external expectations.
6. Lazy Procrastination – When you just don’t want to do the work.

Do you recognize yourself in any of these? The good news is that each type can be overcome—but only if we stop lumping them all together as “laziness.”

Why Procrastination Can Be a Good Thing

Procrastination might actually be a helpful signal. It’s a reminder that something deeper needs attention. Are you:

• afraid of failure?
• overwhelmed because you’re not sure where to start?
• stuck because you’re trying to meet impossible standards?
• needing to develop new pastor habits?
• out of alignment with your deepest values?

When we stop treating procrastination as the enemy and start seeing it as a symptom, we can begin to address its root causes. This approach doesn’t just help us get more done—it helps us live more intentionally and in alignment with our values.

What’s Next?

Over the next few posts, we’re going to dive deep into each type of procrastination, uncovering what causes it and how to overcome it. You’ll learn practical strategies for moving forward and staying productive without the guilt and frustration.

Here’s a quick challenge: Take a moment right now and think about a task you’ve been putting off. Ask yourself: What’s really behind my procrastination? Is it fear, uncertainty, perfectionism, wisdom, or control?

Understanding is the first step toward action. Let’s tackle procrastination together—one type at a time.

Action Step: Share in the comments or with a friend: What’s one task you’ve been procrastinating, and which type of procrastination do you think might be behind it? Let’s start the journey to defeating procrastination once and for all!