When Procrastination Meets Mortality: A Wake-Up Call

When Procrastination Meets Mortality: A Wake-Up Call

It starts innocently enough. A skipped check-up, a postponed conversation with your doctor, a resolution to "start next week." For someone like me, procrastination has always been a silent companion. It whispers sweet reassurances that there is always more time—to eat better, exercise, and schedule that appointment. But lately, I have found myself staring down the barrel of a truth I cannot ignore: procrastination about your health is not just a bad habit. It can be a killer.

That is not hyperbole. Procrastination can, quite literally, lead to death.

The Quiet Ticking Clock

In my case, the stakes could not be higher. I have Glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer that does not offer much room for error. Every day, I know there are steps I should be taking—like committing to the Optune device, drinking less alcohol, and cutting out sugar. I know these actions could improve my quality of life and even extend it. And yet, here I am, finding reasons to delay.

Imagine this: one morning, you wake up feeling off. At first, you brush it aside. "Maybe it’s just stress," you tell yourself. "I’ll deal with it later." But later becomes a thief in the night, quietly stealing days that turn into weeks, weeks into months. Before you know it, "later" becomes a perilous cliff, and you are standing at the edge, realizing there is no way back. That is the cruel irony of procrastination: it cloaks itself as a harmless delay, only to evolve into an unshakable regret when consequences arrive.

Ironically, some experts believe procrastination is not all bad. Timothy Pychyl, a renowned researcher, suggests that procrastination often arises from emotional self-regulation. In other words, delaying can sometimes be a way to process or prepare ourselves emotionally for difficult tasks. Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist, even said, "Procrastination gives you time to consider divergent ideas, to think in nonlinear ways, to make unexpected leaps."

Live Life or Live Longer?

And then it happens. The wake-up call. Maybe it’s a scan result that is worse than expected. Perhaps it is a friend’s diagnosis that shakes you to your core. For me, the realization is ongoing: if I keep delaying, I am playing Russian roulette with my own life. And let me tell you, that is a game no one wins.

I find myself caught in a paradox: Do I enjoy life to its fullest, savoring every moment, even if it means bending the rules? Or do I buckle down, stick to the strict protocols, and hope for more time in the end? The balance is fragile, but I am learning to navigate it. Living with Glioblastoma has taught me there is value in both approaches. As Anne Lamott wrote, "Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you."

The key, I think, is intentionality. When I indulge, I ask myself: is this an act of joy, or am I feeding the avoidance monster? When I stick to a regimen, I remind myself it is an act of love—a gift to my future self. Life, after all, is not about perfect discipline or unchecked indulgence. It is about finding the harmony that lets you live peacefully and purposefully.

The Happy Ending (If You Let It Be)

Here is the thing about procrastination, though: it is not inherently evil. It is part of being human. Sometimes, delaying is a way to protect ourselves from uncomfortable truths. But when procrastination begins to control us instead of the other way around, that is when we must take a stand.

I am not saying I have all the answers. I still struggle. But I have learned this: action, no matter how small, is the antidote. Call the doctor. Start the treatment. Say no to the drink or the dessert—at least sometimes. Because as much as procrastination can bite us, it can also be a teacher. It forces us to confront our priorities and reminds us that time is a gift—one we cannot afford to squander.

Questions to Ponder

• Is procrastination inherently bad, or does it serve a purpose in certain situations?

• What happens when we let procrastination dictate our lives?

• How can we find the balance between enjoying life and taking necessary action?

• If procrastination about your health could cost you your life, what would you do differently today?

So here is my challenge to you: what are you putting off, and why? More importantly, what would it take for you to act? For me, the answer is clear: I choose to live, and that starts with facing the uncomfortable truths I’d rather delay. What about you?