Brood Magazine

"Connecting, growing, and inspiring ambitious founders, leaders, and working parents."

SARIE TAYLOR: Procrastination; does it stop us from getting where we want to be?

SARIE TAYLOR:  Procrastination; does it stop us from getting where we want to be?

PROCRASTINATION; DOES IT STOP US GETTING WHERE WE WANT TO BE?

It’s September and routines are changing again, a time to find our feet with a new schedule again, and maybe get all the things done we haven’t managed to do during the summer. Easy? Or is it? Maybe you find yourself lacking in the motivation to get things done, and then end up procrastinating and avoiding moving forward?

 

Some of you may really disagree with me on this, but I don’t believe anyone is lazy or chooses to be lazy, which is a word I often hear used in conjunction with procrastination. People say things like ‘I am just being lazy’ or ‘I just can’t be bothered to get started’. I don’t think this is strictly true. Nobody chooses to get behind in life, in fact it will often cause us more stress and suffering when we view ourselves as behind, but what if there is no such thing? We all have expectations in life of what needs doing, and where we think we should be up to, but these are thoughts not facts.

 

Most of the time that we end up procrastinating is because we are not being realistic or compassionate with ourselves and our expectations, the pressure we put onto ourselves is too much. Think of it like being stood at the bottom of a mountain looking up and thinking I need to get to the top! This may be followed with many thoughts like, ‘Its too much, I will never make it, It’s too difficult!’ And so we may find ourselves deciding not to even bother getting started, and put it off for another day, when we feel more ready. Imagine you are stood at the bottom of this same mountain and look up again but this time you decide ‘I will just walk for the next 15 minutes and see how I get on?’ Would that feel any different? I am sure it wouldn’t feel quite as overwhelming to give yourself permission to just get started and see how you go. You may find that you end up feeling more motivated to keep going by the end off those 15 minutes, or you may want to sit and rest and take in the view where you are anyway as you see its just as beautiful!

 

Everything is easier and more enjoyable in life with a quieter mind. When we start to jump too far ahead in our minds to everything that we feel has to be done, and how are we going to manage, we are already taking up energy and brain space with the what ifs, that could be far better used in the moment to just get started. The next time you find yourself procrastinating, remember this is your minds way of trying to slow you down, reduce your expectations and just get started, pick somewhere small to start as motivation often comes when we get going. If we wait for motivation to appear before we get going, then we could be waiting forever! Also remember to give yourself praise and credit for getting started, so instead of focusing on what is ‘still’ left to do, recognise you have started and that is good enough, and you are much more likely to keep going with more ease.

DO YOU NEED TO INCREASE YOUR SELF-ESTEEM AND CONFIDENCE, OR ARE YOU PERFECTLY IMPERFECT?

Need to increase your self esteem and confidence, or are you perfectly imperfect?Confidence and self esteem are talked about so much, and thats usually because we are looking for an answer on how to improve ours! If you look up what these actually mean you will find...

Navigating Vitamin Choices: Supporting Your Family’s Health

For working parents and self-starters, maintaining peak performance while ensuring your own and your family’s well-being is paramount. Enter the wellness world’s best kept secret, liposomal supplements. An innovative approach to nutrition that’s transforming how we support our health, energy and overall vitality.

Simple Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp Every Day

The great thing about brain training is that it doesn’t require anything fancy, it’s more about building small habits that challenge your mind in different ways. Reading a book, even for just a few minutes a day, helps your brain stay engaged. Solving puzzles, like crosswords or Sudoku, also gives your brain a workout, pushing it to think critically and solve problems. It’s not about doing these things perfectly. It’s about keeping the brain active and flexible, like any other muscle.

What You Should Know Before Starting a Weight Loss Medication

Weight loss medication is one of the biggest conversations in health right now — but before you start any treatment, it pays to go in with your eyes open. From understanding how these medications actually work, to managing side effects and shifting your relationship with food, here’s what you should know before taking the first step.

Recharge Through Nature’s Medicine: Cacao Ceremonies

Cacao ceremonies have gained popularity for their potential physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental benefits, all of which can contribute to a deeper connection with oneself, enhanced creative flow, self-expression, and self-acceptance. Here’s a breakdown of these benefits:

How children can enrich your spiritual path

How children can enrich your spiritual path.The beginning of my spiritual journey was one spent in solitude, I loved creating my own temple space within my living room, I meditated within the forest at the back of my home, I travelled globally...

Struggling To Relax This Summer? Here Are Some New Habits To Pick Up

The summer time is the season of relaxation! It’s the time when most people go on vacation, when the kids are off school, and when the sun is out and the evenings are long. There’s more time to relax and do things for yourself, and there’s less pressure to get things done when it’s too hot and sweaty for any real work!

4 Simple ways to reset when you’re feeling burnt out and overwhelmed

ASHLEIGH GUTHRIE. IMAGE © TOM PITFIELD PHOTOGRAPHYONE OF MY FAVOURITE PIECES OF ADVICE FOR CREATIVE PRODUCTIVITY IS, “IF YOUR MIND IS EMPTY READ, IF YOUR MIND IS FULL WRITE.”  KNOWING WHEN TO REST AND WHEN TO ACT THROUGHOUT THE DIFFERENT CYCLES OF THE MONTH AND...

Simple Tips for Keeping Your Teeth Healthy Every Day

Parents want their little ones to adopt healthy habits as soon as they can walk, and nowhere is there greater emphasis than personal hygiene.

Learning to let go – the empowerment edit with Sarah Jayne Dunn

Have you ever found yourself in a situationship that doesn’t serve you? You’re not sure why, you can’t quite put your finger on it, but deep down, something doesn’t feel right. Your gut is nudging you, your heart feels heavy, the energy is off, and somewhere in the background, the alarm bells are starting to ring.

Some Simple Ways To Make A Wedding Less Stressful

Weddings are famously stressful to plan for, but this doesn’t actually mean that they have to be. If you are planning a wedding and you want to try and make sure it goes to plan, but that it is also not so stressful throughout, there are a lot of things you might want to bear in mind here. If you can do the following, you should find that you are going to have a much less stressful wedding, and that it really makes a huge difference to your whole experience, so let’s take a look right now.

Why Slow Living Is Becoming More Popular With Professionals

Modern work culture often rewards constant speed, but many professionals are beginning to question whether a fast-paced lifestyle is sustainable. Discover how embracing slow living—focusing on intentionality, clear boundaries, and offline hobbies—can help you avoid burnout while building a fulfilling career.

The Balance of Play

I hate admitting that because I value play so deeply, especially in those precious early years. It’s how our children learn, explore, imagine and build confidence. But as a mum trying to keep a household running and a business growing, it’s not always easy to appreciate those moments.

IS GUILT A GIVEN WHEN YOU ARE A WORKING PARENT?

When I started to really see that my feelings of guilt came from the thoughts I had about myself, I started to see guilt as a wonderful alarm and indicator for me to actually lower my expectations of myself, relieve the pressure and be much more patient and compassionate with myself! It is simply and indicator that our thoughts have gone off in an unhelpful direction.

Sarie Taylor: Overwhelm

Feeling overwhelmed? Our resident Psychotherapist gives us some tips to reduce our stress and anxiety when it comes to a parent juggling work and family life.

Burnout & Resilience – A Fresh Perspective from Within

Burnout has been steadily rising across the UK, with rates climbing from 51% in 2022 to 65% in the summer of 2024. And while the stats alone could be worrying, they don’t tell the full story, especially for those of us juggling the relentless demands of work and parenting.

TURBT vs Other Bladder Procedures: A Straightforward Guide for Working Parents

We compare TURBT vs other bladder procedures and explain the key differences in purpose, recovery, diagnosis, follow-up care, and patient suitability.

Fun, Affordable Ideas to Keep Kids Entertained at Home

While it’s lovely to have more time with the kids, the constant questions of “Mum, what are we doing today?” or “Dad, can we play Fifa?” can get overwhelming fast.
At Happy Little Owls, we know how important it is to keep little minds and bodies active during the school holidays without exhausting yourself, or your bank account. So, we’ve rounded up some creative, budget-friendly ideas to help you make the most of the summer break at home. These are easy to set up, full of fun and perfect for creating lasting memories.

What others think of us is actually none of our business…

What others think of us is actually none of our business…This is something that I continually remind myself and my clients of. We can spend so much of our time and energy on worrying about other peoples opinions, as well as the general opinions and expectations of...

Top tips to save school run stress, from a countdown playlist to emergency car kit

The kids are FINALLY back at school, but getting everyone out the door on time and with everything they need can be a struggle…
Almost three-quarters (72%) of parents say the school run is the most stressful time of day. And left lunchboxes (51%), missing schoolbags (40%) and forgetting to fill the car with charge or fuel (31%) are among the top morning routine blunders.

 KEEP UP TO DATE WITH BROOD:

* indicates required
Please select all the ways you would like to hear from Brood Magazine:
You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. For information about our privacy practices, please visit our website.
We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.

Related Articles

About The Author

Leave a reply

BROOD Magazine subscription offer for entrepreneurial and working parents – annual price £26.95, featuring magazine covers and contributors including Charlotte Hawkins, Ashley James, and Simon Squibb, with a focus on balance, motivation, and real-life support

BROOD LIVE
BROOD magazine podcast