Skip to content Procrastination - Why We Do It & How to Stop It Oct 8 · 1 hr 8 min ...more
Procrastination - Why We Do It & How to Stop It
October 8, 2025 · 1 hr 8 min
Discover hope in God's word as we discuss overcoming procrastination in everyday life.
Series Hope Talks Podcast Videos October 8, 2025 · 1 hr 8 min · Hope Talks Podcast Videos
Discover hope in God's word as we discuss overcoming procrastination in everyday life. ...more Show the full description Show less Discover hope in God's word as we discuss overcoming procrastination in everyday life.
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Understanding Procrastination Through Scripture 0:00 Don't worry today. If there's something that you feel like you should have, could have, would have, don't do that to yourself.0:09 Yeah.0:09 Ask him. Talk to him right now. Get in his word. It guide. What should I do? And help me know how to do it. Welcome to Hope Talks. We're your hosts. I'm Haley0:21 Scully along with Dustin Anderson, and we wanna give you every reason for hope for every challenge in life because hope means everything.0:37 Haley, we have been putting off this episode for a while.0:41 Just waiting. That was a good that was a0:46 Oh, okay.0:47 Sorry. I didn't even I didn't get it at first.0:49 You didn't even see it.0:50 I didn't get it at first.0:51 We are talking about we're talking about procrastination today, and so I have jokes.0:58 Yeah. That was a good 1. And, normally, I catch a joke, but I was like, I thought I'm just gonna go right with them. And then after I said, we've been waiting, then I got it. Yeah. Man, I must be1:10 tired. Must be tired.1:13 So today's topic is procrastination. It's interesting conversation to me because it is 1 of our topics in our Keys for Living Library. It's not the most serious topic. In our, you1:25 know, hundred plus topics, we address serious stuff like, you know, abuse and trauma and and grief and death and all of these things, but we also address stuff like time1:37 management. We had an episode on that. I think procrastination is 1 of those kind of issues where it's not so much a trauma you went through or something, but it is kind of a it's something we all deal with. We've1:49 all put off things, and there is kind of a range to it. So I think some of it will talk about just kind of how it impacts our work, but there's also, like, some serious things, I think. Not serious2:00 things, but there are bigger issues that we have put off of, like, making an important decision and things like that. Yeah. And what's interesting about it is scripture does address this issue. While it doesn't say the2:12 word procrastination, there's a lot of kind of concepts in scripture that relate to this. And so ideas of, you know, working hard, of planning, diligence, being ready, being prepared, all of2:24 those things. So while the word isn't there, scripture kinda clearly calls us to a, you know, a life of of planning, of diligence, and, you know, not wanting us to put off the important2:36 things in life.2:36 Yeah. I think that is a good way to look at that. As I was reading some of the scriptures that I know you're gonna share, because procrastination isn't always or necessarily2:49 a sin issue, sometimes it's a habit issue. And then when we look at scripture and we try to apply that scripture to some of these lesser, I'll call them lesser issues, because,3:00 yeah, it's not abuse recovery and those types of things, but scripture can all of a sudden feel a bit condemning. And once we read some of the scripture, I think we'll because, like, it's not a super serious3:12 issue. We look at scripture that the tone can kind of sound kind of serious, then all of a sudden it's like, well, gosh. You know? That was right. So I just wanna encourage people, like, as followers3:24 and believers in Christ.3:26 Mhmm.3:26 Right? Our sin is forgiven. A lot of that that moment and that decision, like, we're new. And, and from that point on,3:38 yes, there is conviction of our sin through scripture, but I, instead of feeling condemned when we get into some of this language, I like to shift it and encourage people to3:50 feel empowered. Yeah. You know, feel empowered because if if God if his word is saying be diligent and all those things, and there's a couple of those that I was like, I I'm gonna,4:02 I know there was 1 episode that I kept talking about cleaning my closet. That closet is still not cleaned. I was like, that was months ago. So I don't know if I don't know if I'm gonna be convicted today. Yeah. But it's4:13 like, that should that should be some helpful guardrails. If scripture says do this, then that tells me a couple of things. I can pray to God4:23 Yeah.4:23 And he cares about everything. His eyes on this pharaoh. Yep. He, you know, closed the lily of the field. I think sometimes these practical everyday issues Mhmm. Help us to4:35 remember the closeness of God and the intimacy of God that he cares about, not just whether or not we're out there sinning. He cares about our whole4:47 being and our wellness. And he cares about when procrastination is at a level that it impacts our wellness. Yeah. That's something that I can talk to God about, and he's gonna help4:59 me with. So I wanna be empowered by the word of God, not condemned by it. That Yeah. Satan is always gonna be throwing a filter Yeah. At me. So we have to bat it down.5:11 That's good. Yeah. And I think, yeah, procrastination is 1 of those issues where we can think about it kind of light, like, oh, it's just a it's a quirk. It's a it's a bit of a bad habit.5:21 Yeah.5:21 But then on on another hand, like, it really can impact our lives, and there's kind of like a guilt or a Mhmm. Shame of, like, oh, I I shouldn't have done that. And so you can start to feel condemned5:33 or guilty. And so that's a good word upfront just to say that there's grace. There's Yeah. There's. And it's not always a sin issue. It's a thing that God's word addresses. Yeah. And so Yeah.5:44 Which is why I think the way that our topics are organized is so important. I mean, definitions, you know, like understanding, and I know we're5:56 gonna get into some of that, but understanding what is the definition of procrastination. Because I bet a lot of people will define it as laziness or, you know, there's a lot of definitions.6:08 So even like we've talked about in different episodes on different topics that we've done, defining it and understanding where we are and what it is and getting kind of to the root to it, that is a6:20 such a helpful first step6:23 Mhmm.6:23 To then addressing it. So Yeah. Let's jump in it.6:26 Let's jump in. So procrastination is the act of delaying or avoiding tasks, responsibilities, or decisions, especially those that are necessary or important Mhmm. Despite knowing that6:38 it will likely lead to negative consequences. So 1 thing I wanna highlight there, it's delaying or it's kind of a form of avoidance.6:47 Mhmm.6:47 But I wanted to include tasks, responsibilities, or decisions because I think we tend to think of it as, like, just tasks. Mhmm. I need to do this thing, but there's also things that we put off, like6:59 making a decision about something. Yeah. And so I think that's a key component to this conversation is it's it's not just your to do list at home or at work.7:09 Right.7:10 It's, you know, sometimes important life decisions Yeah. We have to make.7:15 So what is if that is what procrastination is, and it is kinda it is an it is a negative. You know, the implication of procrastinating on something, it is a a negative thing. It's not like with perfectionism7:26 where sometimes we can kinda pat ourselves on the back because we're trying to do everything perfect, but that has its own, you know, Achilles heel. Yeah. I'll go with that. But7:38 procrastination, it is kind of always a negative, but not every time we don't do something is it is it procrastination. So I liked some of the the pieces of that that7:50 procrastination isn't Oh. Resting or taking a break.7:54 Yeah. It's it's totally okay to7:57 Yeah. Take a break. Okay.7:59 God calls us to, I mean, Sabbath to rest and all of that. So I think sometimes we think, well, I didn't get to that because I need to I need to wind down. I need to take8:11 a break. And it's like, well, yeah, we're limited. We're finite. We need to rest. Yeah. And and god calls us to that. So I I think just kind of yeah. It's helpful to kinda clear what it isn't. So it's8:23 not taking a rest, taking a a break. It's not waiting on God. You know, there's some things where we're we're trusting him for. We're and we're just waiting.8:32 Right.8:33 And8:33 I will wait. I will wait on you.8:37 We're going Mumford and Sons today.8:38 They're my very favorite, and I've never had opportunity to sing a Mumford song. So there is I will wait. Yeah. Okay. That's Yes. Waiting on the Lord is not procrastinating.8:50 Yeah. Or like you said, being lazy. There are scriptures that I'll I'll read here in a second that kind of tie laziness and procrastination together, but just because you procrastinate doesn't actually it's not a9:02 direct correlation. Right. And so there's a lot of high achieving people who they get a lot of things done, but there are certain things that, again, maybe they're delaying a decision or putting9:14 something really important off. But if you were to look at their life from week to week, it's like, oh, they get a lot of stuff done.9:20 Yeah.9:20 So it's not a direct tie to, you know, laziness.9:24 Right. Right. They may just be avoiding something that they need to do, a responsibility or a decision. But these are reasons why talking about the definitions and helping people really think through,9:36 is this a procrastination issue? Because for some people, we may look at this and we'd be like, no. They have a laziness issue. Yeah. They do have a habit that is counterproductive for9:48 them. And so then to chase that rabbit a little bit down a hole, if once they define, okay, no, it is, you know, this is a laziness issue. I don't wanna just,10:00 not accept some conviction there, like receive conviction that we need, but then, okay, why is there a laziness? We go ahead and then we go peel that onion and say that maybe laziness10:12 is related to bad relationships in the past that have made you feel bad or guilty or perfectionism, or there may be other reasons.10:20 Someone has just done things for you for so long that you don't10:24 Mhmm. You don't know how to exercise the muscle Yeah. Making a right decision. Some people have that. Yeah. So it again, it is understanding, 1 that God10:36 cares. You know, we talk about discipleship. We talk about following Christ. We talk about applying God's word. It's for everyday living. You know, it's, it's the,10:47 it's the owner's manual for our hearts, our minds and our purpose. So some of these issues, because for some people, procrastination can lead to really10:59 difficult situations and consequences. Yeah. You know? So if people, if you hear say procrastination, I'm I'm saying it so much now. I'm gonna say the p word. If you11:11 hear if you hear that and there's a little bit of a a little bit of a gut check, then I just I encourage you to hang in and Yeah. Listen in because there's some reasons. There's some causes for procrastination, and11:23 there's some solutions for it.11:24 Yeah. We'll get into the causes and stuff in a little bit, but I did wanna walk through just a little list of things that I I prepared because just to think a little bit more broadly about this. Because like you said,11:34 like, it's it's not it's not necessarily like a harmless personality quirk or something11:41 like that.11:41 It really can impact stuff. So some of the areas that we procrastinate, like, again, there are the practical things of the work to do list, you know, doing the dishes, doing the laundry, putting those things off.11:53 Mhmm. You know, making a phone call to the doctor.11:56 I didn't not like talking on the phone as a general rule. Yeah. Okay. Keep going.12:01 But it's like some of those practical things like your you know, maybe someone's engine light has been on for, like, 4 months, you know, oil change, something like that. These are just the practical things of life. But12:12 then also starting a new healthy habit, exercising, diet, stuff like that. You know, putting that off for a while. Having a hard conversation that you need to have with someone.12:23 I never put that off just, unfortunately.12:25 Are a confronter.12:26 Are there people around me? I wanna talk about a lot a lot. Keep going.12:31 But a couple more. Applying for a job that's, you know, you've been thinking about, at this is this 1 really kinda struck me. Asking for help, getting counseling, like, needing to12:43 take that step for when you're struggling with something. And, you know, like, I think about the amount of times, like, we we we have, like, a recovery ministry in our church, and when we put, like,12:55 an announcement up for it or a slide on the screen, there's always this, like, feeling of, like, is is now are are we finally gonna join this now and get the help we need for our marriage and stuff? Yeah. And having been13:06 in those ministries, there's always a few people who come who are like, you guys have been showing us this for, like, 3 years now.13:13 Yeah.13:14 And so it's it's some of those things as well, but then also, like, again, making a major life decision. I mean, from coming to know the Lord, really making it a13:25 priority to pursue, like, who Jesus is, what the Bible says, all of that, like, not putting that off. There's a lot of statistics now on, like, the age of when people are having kids is, like, much13:37 later and later and later.13:39 Yeah.13:39 And so some of those things as well where it's like it's actually, like, really serious life things where it's not just, oh, I didn't do the dishes this week. Yeah. It can be,13:51 you know, for some bigger issues. But then also I think about it on, like, the positive side of, like, if you have a dream that you have and want to pursue, there's a lot of reasons why we can put14:03 those things off. Mhmm. Because we have to deal with the here and now and our responsibilities, you know, in the present, and those things are real. Mhmm. But there's also a way where we can just kind of put that off14:15 Yeah. And put it off for another month or put it off for another year. Mhmm. And then you look back, a decade goes by, and you go, I haven't written the book I've wanted to write, or I haven't traveled to the place I14:26 wanted to travel, or, you know, whatever it is. So there's, like, even, like, the dreams and kinda hopes that we have of, like, what what are we doing to take steps right now to pursue those things and14:38 not push them off? You're looking at me.14:42 Yeah. No. I think you're so right. It's kind of like failure to plan is or planning to fail is failure to plan, whatever that whatever that line is. I remember years ago, I'm not14:54 sure where this is going, but I was at church in Oklahoma City, and our pastor was talking about, you know, having a vision and what's God's vision for the next thing that you15:06 were gonna do. I think it was, like, kind of a first of the year type thing. And I remember leaving church that night and having a pretty significant sass back moment with the Lord. And And I was15:18 like, you need to give me a vision. You know, I was crying. I was like, I don't know if I I've never really been a vision person. You know? I'm kind of like the I'm I'll be captain of the follow-up15:29 team. Like, like, somebody else needs to have the vision, and then I can I can see the vision that I have is I can see the structure of somebody else's dream?15:40 Does that15:40 make sense? Yeah. You know? So I had been feeling like I needed to write my story for, like, a long time. You talked about writing your book. And I was like, I don't you know? So I there I15:52 am sassing the Lord that he needed to tell me what he wanted me to do. And immediately, like, the book came to mind. Like, I already had something that had been on my heart and my mind to do. So then I thought, well, I16:04 don't know how to write a book. You need to tell me how you know? So I man, I just am a back talker. But I meant it. Like, I can just talk with him, you know? So I remember appreciate16:14 that you're always honest with the Lord. Well It's a hard thing to cultivate.16:17 Don't know how. I had a dad that I could always16:21 shoot16:21 it straight with, you know, thankfully. So I wasn't afraid of that. But that week, I got an email from Christina and I were just talking about this, but I got an email from She Speaks, like, the Lisa Turcurse. She16:33 does, like, this writer's mentoring thing.16:36 Yeah.16:36 So I had just been telling God, like, I don't know how to write a book. I don't know where to start. Somebody needs to help. Help. So my point in all of that is sometimes we can have this thought, like, I need to write a16:47 book or I need to do this. I need to do that. I need to do that. Yeah. Well, not every thought that runs through our mind is something that we're supposed to do or have to do or need to do. So if anybody even hears us16:58 talking about this now, and they had a thought 10 years ago and they still haven't piked that mountain or written their book, I just want to encourage people like you haven't necessarily missed it. You know,17:10 that was 1 thing that when I really paused and sought the Lord in that moment of like, what do I need to be doing? He showed me. And so I think that 1 of the main encouragements that we can give is17:22 ask the guy, ask the guy that knows, ask God. I mean, he's the, you know, I say the God, the guy kind of flip, but I mean, he's the 1 that knows why we're created and why we17:34 were made. So we can sit here and, and condemn ourselves or, you know, it's easy to think, oh, I missed the boat. Listen. Nobody has to think that they missed the boat because17:46 there are new boats talking every morning. And you can seek the Lord and he can have a good and a plan for you right then. Now, if I had just whined right17:58 then, I don't know what to do. And then when he sent me an email then thought I mean, he didn't send me an email. That I got was on somebody's list that I got that email. But that was the thing that I was like, okay, I18:07 just asked about it. Here's an email that says, we'll help you learn how to do this. Yeah. There it is. I'm going to do it. I'm going to lean into it. So I just think, don't worry18:19 today. If there's something that you feel like you should have, could have, would have, don't do that to yourself. Yeah. Ask him, talk to him right now, you know, get in his word. It18:31 guide, what should I do and help me know how to do it?18:35 No. I like that because it it kinda puts some things in the context of, like I think about our priorities that kinda came to mind as you were talking because there are things that we put off that might be a18:47 priority to us or just like a responsibility of, like, I when I think of procrastination a lot, I think of, like, you have legitimate responsibilities that you need to tend to and you're avoiding them.18:58 Yes.18:58 But there are things in our life where we put off because, like, right now maybe isn't the season Right. For it. And I think that's kinda what you're saying. If you had a thought or a dream a couple years ago or19:10 something, like, it's okay. Like, there's still, you know, there's still time. There's still hope. You can still come to God with those things. It doesn't mean that you were, you know, neglectful19:21 Yeah.19:21 In some sense.19:22 And maybe you missed it.19:23 Yeah. You19:24 know, it's not that it's not that absolutely everything happens for a a good reason. Sometimes things happen because we procrastinated. Sometimes things happen because we made19:36 a wrong choice or we didn't step out when we needed to or we didn't hold still when we needed to. The whole point is we have a guide, and we have a God, and we have His word, and we19:47 don't just have to be riding blind on this. So, you know, I I don't want people to be discouraged if there if there's something coming to mind that they procrastinated on. There's hope for today. And go19:59 ahead and and start in the morning, you know, or or seeking him. Yeah. But then also take heed. Yeah. You know, when we when we see a sign or 2 that20:11 is saying, okay, I don't wanna procrastinate. And I like the word you use, like priority. I mean, I joke about that closet. I so I have a closet in my guest bedroom at my apartment.20:23 And how organized is it?20:25 It well, actually, if you open the door, you'd be like, that's really organized. Like, I like things to be pretty tidy. Yeah. The thing is if I double down on organized, I also have, like, a20:37 storage closet at my apartment unit that I I would like to combine. I would like to get rid of the storage unit and have everything in that 1 closet. So it would be nice. It's probably not a20:48 priority right now.20:50 Right.20:50 But whenever we talk about wanting to get things done Yeah. That would be that would be helpful. You know? I mean, I pay a little bit for the other storage unit, and I could put that someplace else.21:02 But it's not like, you know, those types of things, I guess, just take heed. It it's a both and. Don't let this conversation condemn you, but let it empower you. And if there's21:14 something coming to mind right now, don't start to grieve that you've missed every opportunity, but think what are the opportunities that I have today and what could I start to do a little different to not21:26 have procrastination be an issue?21:28 Yeah. I think part of it is thinking through, like, the the results or the consequences of not doing the thing. Mhmm. Absolutely. Like you said, like, the if I, you21:40 know, organize things and fix up the closet, I could save a little bit of21:44 money. Right.21:44 But it it doesn't sound, like, super urgent to take care of that.21:48 Apparently not.21:50 But there and, like, it it reminds me too, like, when I after I graduated seminary, I really wanted to have I started a blog, and I really wanted to be super diligent about keeping up with it every week, having22:02 a new post every week and maybe an extra 1 on Sunday. And I kept up with it for 2 months or something, but then my second daughter, Ellie, was born, and22:14 life got busier. And I remember actually writing a a blog post about about why writing doesn't matter that much. It was like an ironic thing.22:23 You were validating yourself.22:24 Because it was like like, the the only time I have to do this in in that season of life was, like, at the end of the night when all of the kids are asleep, and I'm super, like, exhausted and mentally not there anymore.22:35 Yeah. So it22:36 was like it was like a priority. It was kind of self validating. Yeah. I'm giving an excuse a little bit. But it was also, like, my way of acknowledging, like, there's other things going on in my life right now that is22:47 not as important Right. As keeping up with a blog.22:51 Right. You weren't procrastinating that. You were realizing you had other priorities. Yeah.22:57 But at the same time, like, I don't wanna perpetually use that as an excuse.23:01 I mean, I'd ride that out. I'd ride that to sunset, Dustin. Like, that exactly right.23:08 Yeah. 1 of the things and, again, like, the consequences of not doing it is just like, oh, there's 1 less blog in the universe. Like, okay. Like, not a huge deal. But when you think about some of the things that are23:19 important, and that's why I think part of the definition of, like, knowing that there will be a negative consequence, you still put it off. Right. So thinking through of internal and external. So, like, external, like,23:31 am I legitimately getting in trouble at work or at home or something because I've missed a task, a job, you know, a responsibility? Like, is there a financial23:43 cost to this decision I did or did not make because I put it off? Or something.23:47 Trying to convict me? There is financial cause of the cause.23:51 Of the cause of the cause. Of the cause of the cause of the cause. Of the cause of the thing. Or the internal kind of consequences of, like, do you feel kind of23:57 Yeah.23:57 Ashamed? Do you feel guilty? Do you feel like or do or do you feel just kind of a sense of, like, inadequacy of just like, ugh, I just I could have done it. I just didn't do it. And now I24:09 just almost like embarrassment of, like24:12 Like it's silly.24:13 Yeah. Yeah. It's like silly or someone was counting on me, and now I'd I'd I let them down. So, like, thinking of, like, does this thing actually impact any relationships in my life? So I think if those24:25 things are if those internal or external consequences are more pronounced, you know, feeling greater or whatever24:33 Yeah. Then maybe it's time to address it.24:35 Then maybe it's a signal of, like, okay. Maybe this is an issue we need to24:40 Let's sit still a minute and talk to the Lord and get real with ourselves. And all of that is really only necessary if we want transformation. Mhmm.24:52 You know, change is possible in any of us. Our thought patterns, our habits, our all of this can be addressed. Yep. You know, it's just, do we have the25:04 information we need? Do we give ourselves the space and the grace that we need? And then are we willing to step into a few different things? But also, it's25:16 just remembering none of that has to be on our own. Yeah. You know, none of that has to be on our own. God has promised us help. And when we ask him for help I was laughing25:28 a minute ago. You were talking about just asking for help and all that. And, like, you know, when I moved into my apartment and I just a couple people had offered help, and I didn't. And there's, like, that little25:40 meme of talking about being hyper independent, and it's a guy trying to move a couch. And he has, like, a roller chair on 1 end, and he's on the other. And I was like, oh my gosh. That is so me. So sometimes I25:52 can be my own worst enemy in that. Like, if I'm I'm putting things off because I won't accept or ask for Yeah. The help that you need. But, like, if we'll sit still for a minute26:04 and take that to the Lord and be like, okay, Lord, root that out of me, you know, search me and know me and help me understand what this is and set me free of it. And I think that's26:16 where it's really helpful to talk to somebody, to talk to a counselor or get our topic and go through it with your group of friends or with your small group and just26:28 think through and practice searching God for those issues in our lives. I mean, there are times where I'm like, you're supposed to be helping me here. And he totallyShow more In this video 0:00 Understanding Procrastination Through Scripture
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