Sometimes the thing that’s making your life harder started as a way to make life feel safer, and that’s what makes certain patterns so confusing.
You know procrastinating until the last minute is exhausting. You know the panic, pressure, and scramble aren’t helping you. You promise yourself that next time you’ll start earlier, give yourself more space, and stop doing this to yourself.
And then somehow, there you are again.
The deadline is tomorrow, and suddenly your brain can focus, and you can do the thing you’ve been thinking about for weeks.
For Nicky, procrastination had been there for most of her life. School assignments were done at the last minute. Now, as an adult running a creative business with her husband while raising a toddler, the stakes looked very different, but the pattern was almost exactly the same.
She wasn’t lacking ideas, but it was actually starting that felt impossible until there was enough pressure.
During our session, we followed that pattern back to a childhood memory she hadn’t connected to her procrastination before, and suddenly a pattern that had felt irrational for years made a lot more sense.
In this episode, you’ll hear Nicky recognize the difference between the circumstances she grew up in and the life she has now, and what happens when she realizes she no longer needs procrastination to keep her safe.
Because sometimes changing a pattern isn’t about becoming more disciplined.
Sometimes it starts with understanding why your mind decided you needed the pattern in the first place.
What You’ll Hear
- Why Nicky could think about her work for weeks but struggled to actually begin until a deadline was almost here
- How last-minute pressure became something she both hated and, in some ways, learned to thrive on
- The childhood chaos and responsibility that shaped the way she learned to respond to stress
- The school assignment memory that helped her understand where her procrastination may have started
- Why asking for something she needed became connected with causing stress for someone she loved
- The belief underneath the pattern: “If I put things off, then I don’t need to worry”
- Why procrastination can make sense as protection even when it creates more anxiety later
- The difference Nicky recognized between procrastinating and actually resting
- What changed when she realized she has choices and control now that she didn’t have as a child
- The moment she said it no longer felt like she was stopping herself from starting
Resources and Links
Your Next Steps
The next time you catch yourself procrastinating, ask:
What am I avoiding feeling by waiting?
Maybe it’s pressure, disappointment or the fear of not doing it well enough.
Instead of asking, “Why do I keep doing this?” try asking, “What did procrastination once help me avoid?"
Sometimes the pattern makes more sense once you understand what it was protecting you from.
🎙️ The Shift Your Story Podcast
© 2026 Ally Rose | All Rights Reserved
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Disclaimer:
The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any condition, nor does it constitute a therapeutic relationship. All views expressed are my own. You should always consult with your own medical, mental health, legal, and financial professionals before making any decisions.
