We often see procrastination as the enemy — the thief of time, productivity, and success. We’re constantly told by books, experts, and productivity gurus that we must "overcome procrastination" or we’re simply being lazy. The pressure to always hustle and stay productive is overwhelming.

But what if procrastination isn’t the problem? What if it’s your body’s way of signalling something important about your energy and mental state?

Instead of resisting it, perhaps there’s value in listening. In Ecological Medicine by Dr. Sarah Myhill and Dr. Craig Robinson, they explain that energy isn’t just about how much you can lift or how far you can run — it’s the fuel that powers every single function of your body and brain.

The brain consumes an immense amount of energy, particularly when you are trying to solve problems, make decisions, or focus on complex tasks. When your energy supply is low, it impacts everything — not just your physical stamina, but also your mental clarity, motivation, and emotional balance.

This is where procrastination comes into play. It may not be laziness; it could actually be your brain’s way of signalling that it doesn’t have the energy to deal with the task at hand. When your energy reserves are depleted, pushing through isn’t always the best option. It can lead to more stress, frustration, and even burnout.

Energy, Anxiety, and Procrastination

In yoga, prana — the vital life force — is believed to flow through all living beings. It is the energy that sustains life and fuels both body and mind. Similarly, in biological terms, Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) plays a comparable role. ATP is often referred to as the “energy currency” of the body because it provides the power necessary for all cellular functions, from conducting nerve impulses to muscle contractions. When your ATP levels are low, you can feel physically and mentally drained. Just like prana being blocked in the body, low ATP affects your ability to function, impacting focus and emotional well-being.

There’s a clear connection between anxiety and energy. When your energy levels drop, your brain goes into alert mode. It senses it may not have enough resources to handle the day’s demands, triggering anxiety. You start worrying about your ability to perform, and before long, you are stuck in a cycle of procrastination and anxiety.

Anxiety, then, isn’t merely a mental state — it’s a physiological response. As Ecological Medicine explains, when your energy delivery systems are running low, your brain struggles to cope with emotional, mental, and physical demands. It’s like trying to run a marathon on an empty tank. No matter how much you want to push forward, your body simply can’t keep up.

Procrastination as a Signal

Instead of viewing procrastination as something to fight, what if you saw it as a signal? When you find yourself avoiding tasks, it might be your body’s way of saying, “I need a break.” Rather than forcing yourself to push through, the solution might be to rest, recharge, and return with a clearer mind.

Procrastination often follows a feedback loop. You feel tired or unmotivated, so you delay a task. The longer you delay, the more anxious you become about not completing it. That anxiety drains even more of your energy, making it even harder to start. But once you recognise procrastination as a signal — not a personal failing — you can begin to approach it differently. You allow yourself to pause, refuel, and know that when your energy is restored, productivity will follow.

Breaking the Cycle

The key to breaking the procrastination-anxiety cycle is understanding it as a symptom of an underlying energy imbalance. By acknowledging that your brain needs energy — just as your body does — it becomes easier to disrupt the loop. Instead of forcing yourself to work harder when you’re already drained, you take a break, refuel, and then approach the task with renewed focus and clarity.

In Ecological Medicine, this is referred to as managing energy reserves. Just as a car requires fuel to run, your brain runs on energy in the form of ATP. And just as you wouldn’t expect a car to function on an empty tank, you can’t expect your brain to perform optimally without replenishing your energy reserves.

The Hidden Advantage of Procrastination

When viewed through this lens, procrastination can actually be a blessing. It’s an opportunity to check in with yourself, recognise when your energy is low, and give yourself the rest you need. Instead of seeing procrastination as wasted time, you can view it as a chance to recharge. When you return to your work, you’ll do so with greater clarity, focus, and creativity.

Anxiety and procrastination aren’t enemies — they are signals from your body, alerting you to an energy imbalance. By paying attention to these signals, you can stop the cycle before it spirals out of control. You can take care of yourself in a way that promotes better productivity, not just in the short term, but in the long run.

So, the next time you find yourself procrastinating, take a moment to pause. Ask yourself if your body is trying to tell you something. Maybe it’s time to rest. Maybe it’s time to replenish your prana and ATP. And when you come back to your task, you might find that your anxiety has eased, and your focus is sharper than ever.

In the end, it makes sense to me to approach procrastination with a pluralistic mindset, recognising that it’s influenced by multiple factors — biological, psychological, social, and environmental. Instead of falling into oversimplification bias, where procrastination is seen as something to simply “overcome,” we can view it as a complex behaviour that requires deeper understanding. By doing so, we allow ourselves to see procrastination not just as a hurdle, but as a valuable signal guiding us to address the real underlying issues.

If you liked this article, you might also enjoy:

• Learning from Sloths: 4 Lessons in Survival, Perception, Unconscious Intelligence, and a Bit of Fun #7
• Understanding Panic Attacks: A Day in the Life of Charlie Brown #15, where I explore the physiological and mechanical aspects of panic attacks in detail.