When Delaying Is Actually the Right Move

Not all procrastination is bad. In fact, sometimes it’s a sign of wisdom. Wisdom procrastination happens when you instinctively delay a task because it doesn’t align with your passions, skills, or priorities. Instead of beating yourself up, what if you saw this kind of procrastination as a signal to reevaluate?

What Is Wisdom Procrastination?

Wisdom procrastination is different from laziness. It’s your brain’s way of telling you that the task in front of you might not be the best use of your time or energy. Here are some examples:

• You keep avoiding a task because it’s outside your area of expertise.
• You delay starting something because you sense it’s not as urgent as other responsibilities.
• You find yourself procrastinating because the task doesn’t align with your values or goals.

Far from being a weakness, wisdom procrastination can be a tool to focus on what matters most—if you handle it correctly.

Why Wisdom Procrastination Happens

Wisdom procrastination often arises because:

• You lack the skills or passion for the task.
• The task doesn’t align with your calling or strengths.
• The task feels like a poor use of your time compared to other priorities.

Successful people know how to listen to these signals. They recognize when a task is better handled by someone else or when it’s time to delegate, defer, or even drop it altogether.

Strategies to Manage Wisdom Procrastination

1. Think “Who, Not How”

When faced with a task that’s not a good fit for your skills or passions, stop asking, “How can I do this?” and start asking, “Who can do this better?” This is a concept from Who, Not How by Dan Sullivan.

• Identify someone with the necessary skills and passion for the task.
• Delegate or outsource the task to free yourself for higher-value work.

For example, instead of struggling to design a flyer for a church event, you could ask a creative team member or hire a freelancer. This allows you to focus on tasks where you can make the greatest impact.

2. Reevaluate Priorities

Sometimes procrastination is a sign that the task in question isn’t truly important. Take a moment to ask:

• Does this task align with my core values and goals?
• Is this the best use of my time right now?
• What would happen if I didn’t do this?

If the task isn’t essential, consider deferring it to a later time or removing it from your to-do list altogether.

3. Focus on Your Zone of Genius

Best-selling author Gay Hendricks talks about the “zone of genius,” where your unique skills and passions align. Tasks outside this zone can drain your energy and productivity. To maximize your impact:

• Identify tasks that fall within your zone of genius.
• Delegate tasks that don’t.
• Spend the majority of your time on activities that only you can do.

For example, if you’re a pastor, your “zone of genius” might include preaching, counseling, or vision casting. Administrative tasks or technical projects might be better handled by others.

4. Set Boundaries and Say No

Sometimes we procrastinate because we’ve said “yes” to too many things. Learning to say “no” can protect your time and energy for what matters most. Here’s how:

• Politely decline tasks that don’t align with your priorities.
• Offer alternatives, such as suggesting someone else who might be better suited for the task.

For example, if you’re asked to join a committee that doesn’t fit your calling, you could say: “Thank you for thinking of me, but I don’t think I’m the best fit for this role. Have you considered asking [Name]?”

Why Wisdom Procrastination Can Be a Good Thing

When handled well, wisdom procrastination can:

• Help you focus on what truly matters.
• Lead to better results by allowing others to bring their expertise.
• Protect your energy and prevent burnout.

Instead of feeling guilty for procrastinating, learn to listen to what it’s telling you. Sometimes, the wisest thing you can do is to step back, reevaluate, and let go of tasks that don’t align with your strengths or calling.

What’s Your Next Step?

Think about a task you’ve been avoiding. Ask yourself:

• Is this task truly essential?
• Is this the best use of my time?
• Who could do this better than I could?

Action Step: Share in the comments or with a friend: What’s one task you’ve been procrastinating, and how can you manage it wisely—whether by delegating, deferring, or letting it go?

All the Types of Procrastination:

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.