When the path forward seems unclear and you find yourself hesitating, it's perfectly normal to wonder, Am I procrastinating right now? Or, am I correctly intuiting that it's not the right time to go ahead with this?

As I've seen this come up more than a handful of times in my coaching sessions, I felt called to address it here. So, let's dig into how to distinguish between procrastination and it truly not being the correct time.

It’s Truly Not the Right Time If…

Your inaction stems from love—a deep respect for your well-being and personal evolution. This may look like...

• You’re honoring your need for rest, recognizing that constant productivity isn't sustainable, nor is it a desirable MO for most. Intentional rest is vital for creativity and emotional health.

• You’re allowing space for growth, understanding that some endeavors require maturity, life experience, and/or additional knowledge before pursuit.

• You’re prioritizing your core values, like family time or personal development, over immediate action.

It’s Procrastination If…

Your delay is rooted in fear—apprehensions about failure, judgment, and/or discomfort. This may look like...

• You’re avoiding discomfort associated with engaging in the task, leading to unnecessary delays. If you're worrying about how much energy and focus a task is going to require of you and you're feeling resistance bubble up, you get it.

• You’re experiencing imposter syndrome, doubting your abilities and fearing either feeling like a fraud, or even being exposed as a fraud.

• You’re fearing judgment, hesitating to share your work due to concerns about others' opinions.

• You’re afraid of failure, postponing tasks to avoid potential shortcomings.

Human Design and Decision-Making

Human Design offers a framework for understanding your unique decision-making strategy, which can help clarify whether you're procrastinating or simply waiting for a more aligned moment. The five energy types are as follows:

Generators and Manifesting Generators: Their strategy is to respond to life’s cues rather than initiate action. If you're a Generator feeling uncertain, consider whether you're responding to external stimuli or forcing action without a clear prompt.

Projectors: Advised to wait for invitations before engaging in significant actions. If you're a Projector, reflect on whether you're awaiting recognition or an invitation, which aligns with your natural strategy. (But please note: you don't need an invitation to start your own project.)

Manifestors: Their strategy involves informing others before taking action. If you're a Manifestor hesitating, consider whether you've adequately communicated your intentions, which might be causing the delay.

Reflectors: Encouraged to wait through a lunar cycle (roughly 28 days) before making major decisions. If you're a Reflector feeling indecisive, this waiting period allows for clarity and alignment with your design.

Understanding your Human Design type can provide valuable insights into your decision-making process, helping you discern between procrastination and aligned timing.

Navigating Mixed Feelings

At times, your reasons for delaying action may be a blend of love and fear. In such cases, remember that there is no definitive right or wrong choice. Taking action, even in small steps, can lead to greater clarity.

For instance, if you're hesitant to start a YouTube channel due to fear of judgment but also feel the need to acquire more knowledge in, say, video editing, you may try committing to the learning process first.

During this period, observe your feelings. Do you feel empowered by gaining knowledge, or does the delay feel like avoidance? Your emotional responses can guide your next steps.

Strategies for Moving Forward

If you identify fear-based procrastination...

Somatic Exercises to Regulate Your Nervous System:

If taking action feels overwhelming, consider...

• Shake It Out: Stand up and shake your arms, legs, and whole body to release stored tension and reset your energy.

• Grounding: Press your feet firmly into the floor and focus on physical sensations to bring yourself back to the present moment.

• Humming: Humming, chanting, or gently massaging your vagus nerve (behind your ears and along your neck) can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing stress.

• Box Breathing: Inhale for four counts, hold for four, exhale for four, hold for four. This calms the nervous system and reduces anxiety.

The Two-Minute Rule:

If a task takes less than two minutes, experiment with doing it immediately to build momentum.

Mindful Scheduling:

Align tasks with your peak energy periods to enhance productivity.

Self-Compassion Practices:

Treat yourself with kindness to reduce the emotional burden of starting a new task. This may begins with noticing how you speak to yourself, and staying conscious in order to adjust your self-talk as needed.
(Parts and/or inner child work can take this even deeper. For support, reach out here.)

At the end of the day, whether you move forward now or later is not really the point. The point is to understand what force is driving you, fear or love, and then to respond to what you discover in the way that aligns best with the person it is you wish to be.