Procrastination Might Be the Smartest Thing You’re Doing Right Now
- Melissa Tori
- Jul 30
- 2 min read

I’ve been telling myself I’m procrastinating. Dragging my feet. Putting it off. Whatever you want to call it. But the truth? I’m protecting my peace. And it hit me hard when I finally admitted it to myself. I’ve fought too long to rebuild my life and find the calm and safety I’ve craved, and I’m scared to let it go.
What if building the next thing just brings more chaos and burnout? Or worse…more disappointment and feeling like I’ve let myself down?
I’ve lived in survival mode before; I know the cost. Right now, standing still feels safer than moving forward into the unknown.
Here is what I’ve come to realize: I’m not avoiding success. I am avoiding the emotional hangover that comes with overextending myself.
The stress and overwhelm. The pressure I put on myself to perform. If you’ve ever rebuilt your life after a season that broke you, you know what I mean. There’s a version of peace you cling to, because it was paid for with pain, isolation and self-sabotage. So even when growth whispers and opportunity knocks, you freeze in stillness because you feel safe.
I no longer fear the unknown. I fear being burned out and exhausted again.I’ve done the “grind until I collapse” and “overextend myself to prove my worth” version of success that demanded I destroy myself to earn it. I allowed it to drain my joy, my soul, my everything.
When the next chapter asks me to trust and go all in, part of me flinches then braces for impact. Because I know where I’ve been and I refuse to go back to being everything for everyone except myself. That old version of who I was forgot to take care of me because she was too busy taking care of everyone else to feel worthy of being seen, supported, or even considered.
Something I learned the hard way is…Safety and living a full life are not the same.
I’ve worked hard to create peace in my life; but if I’m being honest, sometimes it’s too quiet and still. Sometimes the quiet gets too loud. Too much time, too little direction and the old questions come creeping back to the forefront. Part of me wants more, not chaos, hustle or grind, but fulfillment and freedom! Something that fills my soul with happiness, peace and creates a spark. Because we don’t just want to feel calm and safe. We want to feel alive.
If you’re in this same spot, I see you. You're not lazy or unmotivated. You are simply protecting the version of you who finally feels okay. And now, maybe it’s time to show her she’s strong enough to build something beautiful without burning herself out.
If this resonated, I’d love to hear what it brought up for you. Let’s talk about it.
Are you also learning to redefine success and protect your peace without shrinking yourself??
You can also connect with me on Instagram or LinkedIn or explore coaching options at MelissaTori.com.

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