This weekend, I decided to make use of my Easter weekend and set up a shopping cart on my website so that I could start selling my guided meditations.
And then I thought, “Let me make sure the landing page looks good.”
Then I thought, “how cool would it be if there was a Chatbot on there?”
And by the end of the day i created a flawless Chatbot that speaks like me... no landing page and no way for anyone to actually buy a meditation… but a fully functioning Chatbot!
Classic procrastination. Productive on the surface—pointless underneath.
Oh yeah, and I bought the domain www.chibs.ai as well 🤷🏾😅
That’s the sneaky thing about procrastination. It doesn’t always look like avoidance or laziness.
Sometimes it looks like you’re being “productive" and other times it’s full-blown paralysis. Either way, it costs you time, energy, and possibly a bit of your sanity. But my Chatbot was a pretty cool way to procrastinate tho...
So what’s actually going on when we stall like this? And how do we move through it—without burning out?
Procrastination Isn’t Laziness. It’s Protection.
If you’re a ‘high-achiever’, you’re probably not lying around doing nothing. You’re probably doing everything but the thing that actually matters.
Here’s what most people miss: procrastination isn’t a time management issue. It’s a nervous system response. A survival strategy.
Maybe you grew up in a high-pressure environment. Maybe you were praised for getting things perfect, or punished for falling short.
Over time, your system learned that ‘starting’ equals ‘risk’. So it delays. Distracts. Avoids.
But the good news? You can work with this—without shaming yourself into action.
Tools to Break the Procrastination Loop
Here are a few ways to get unstuck (without forcing it):
1. The 10-Minute Rule
Commit to the task for just 10 minutes. No pressure to finish.
This works because it lowers the emotional intensity around starting. It tricks the brain out of fight-or-flight mode and into a low-stakes experiment. Often, once you begin, momentum takes over.
2. Try the STOP Technique
Stop.
Take a breath.
Observe what you’re feeling—tight chest? racing thoughts?
Proceed with intention (not panic).
This technique interrupts the automatic stress response. Instead of unconsciously avoiding the task, it helps you pause, regulate your nervous system, and respond with choice rather than compulsion.
3. Help Your Body Feel Safe Before You Push
Before diving into action, take a moment to regulate your nervous system and remind your body that you're safe—not in danger. Try box breathing. A quick body scan. Step outside for a moment. When your body feels safe, your executive function—planning, decision-making, motivation—comes back online. Safety creates the conditions for productivity.
4. Just Get Started
Nike says Just Do It—but this is a gentler version: Just Get Started. "Just do it" makes the whole task feel huge. We picture the full report, the entire launch, the big intimidating project. But Just Get Started means you only need to do the very first step. Not the full report. Just open the file. Not the whole reply. Just write “Hi.” Breaking a task into micro-steps reduces overwhelm. It makes the mountain feel more like a hill—and helps you bypass perfectionism and paralysis.
5. Ask: What’s Underneath This?
Is it fear of failure? Of being seen? Of not being good enough? When you meet those parts of you with curiosity—not criticism—you shift from self-judgment to self-awareness. And from that place, movement becomes possible.
▶ Watch: How to Stop Procrastinating (Without Forcing Yourself to Push Through)
Join Me Live – Breaking Free from Procrastination
This week on YouTube Live, we’re diving into the real reasons why many of us procrastinate—
…and what to do when it keeps hijacking your time and energy.
✔️ Understand how procrastination is a nervous system response
✔️ Get tools to build momentum (without burning out)
✔️ Learn why great leaders don’t wait for the perfect moment—they just get started, then course-correct as they go
📌 Join me here: youtu.be/mDtYUjjHKG0
🕑 Los Angeles: 3 PM, Sunday 27th April
🕔 New York: 6 PM, Sunday 27th April
🕘 London: 11 PM, Sunday 27th April
🕗 Sydney: 8 AM, Monday 28th April
▶ Watch: Vagus Nerve Sleep Meditation | Sleep through the night | Black Screen
Trouble Switching Off at Night?
When the mind is busy, wired, or quietly panicking about everything you didn’t get done… it’s hard to switch off.
Try my new Vagus Nerve "Sleep through the night" meditation.
Whether you're winding down at bedtime or lying awake in the middle of the night, this meditation is here to help you let go, unwind, and invite restful sleep.
It features gentle pink noise that fades out gradually through the night, paired with breathwork and a full-body scan to help your nervous system settle.
There’s no pressure to fall asleep—just a safe space to relax deeply and let rest come naturally.
Because sometimes the most productive thing you can do… is sleep.
Thanks for being here. For showing up—even on the days when everything feels like a fight. Remember, you’re not lazy! You’re just protecting yourself.
Have a wonderful end to your week.
Warmly,
Chibs 💙
