The Problem with ‘I’ll Do It Later’

We don’t think much of the phrase when we say it.

“I’ll do it later.”

We convince ourselves it’s harmless. That it’s just a delay, not a decision. That we’ll eventually get around to it.

But let’s be honest—later rarely comes.

And when it does, it brings something far worse than the inconvenience of doing the thing in the first place. It brings regret.

I know because I’ve lived it.

For years, I told myself I’d deal with my pain later. I’d heal later. I’d ask for help later.

Later nearly cost me my life.

What Are You Really Putting Off?

Most people think procrastination is just about laziness or bad time management. It’s not.

Procrastination is fear in disguise.

• We delay hard conversations because we fear rejection.
• We delay chasing our dreams because we fear failure.
• We delay addressing our pain because we fear what we might uncover.

“I’ll do it later” is rarely about the task itself. It’s about what that task forces us to face.

Because if we do it now—if we have the conversation, take the risk, confront the pain—then we’re forced to deal with what comes next.

And that’s scary.

So we convince ourselves that waiting will make it easier.

But it never does.

The Price of ‘Later’

The lie of “I’ll do it later” is that it tricks you into thinking time is your ally. That waiting will somehow make things better.

In reality, waiting makes things worse.

• The tension grows.
• The fear deepens.
• The opportunity shrinks.

And then one day, later becomes never.

You wake up and realize you’ve waited too long. That the window has closed. That the thing you said you’d do someday is no longer possible.

And that’s when regret sets in.

Regret is the weight of knowing you had a chance, but you let it slip away. It’s heavier than fear. It’s heavier than failure. It’s a burden you carry for the rest of your life.

And the worst part? It was avoidable.

Do It Now—Before It’s Too Late

If you’re reading this and something inside you is screaming, pay attention.

Because you already know what your “later” is.

• The thing you keep postponing.
• The words you keep swallowing.
• The healing you keep resisting.

You know what it is. And you know you’re running out of time.

So...

Do. It. Now.

?? Call them.

?? Start it.

??? Say it.

?? Face it.

Because one day, you won’t have the choice anymore. And when that day comes, you’ll wish you had done it today.

My Perspective...

I spent years thinking I had more time; that I could always deal with things later.

I thought my pain would wait for me; that my healing could be put on hold.

But...

Pain doesn’t wait. Life doesn’t wait.

And I almost learned that lesson too late.

So I won’t make that mistake again. And I don’t want you to, either.

Here’s my challenge:

1?? Drop a comment below. What’s one thing you’ve been putting off that you know you need to do?

2?? Share this with someone who needs the wake-up call.

3?? Message me directly. If you’re stuck in a cycle of “later,” let’s talk. I know what it feels like, and I know how to break it.

Time isn’t your enemy—but avoidance is.

Do it now. Before later becomes never.

——

Hi! I'm Steven.

My mission is to Inspire belief, build relationships, and better the world...

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