Purposeful Procrastination

A Strategy I Didn’t Know I Had

Last year, I stumbled onto a strategy that worked wonders—though at the time, I had no idea it was a strategy at all.

I was writing my second book, Cracking the Career Code, determined to apply the biggest lesson I’d learned from my first: Write every day.

The problem? Some days, I didn’t feel like writing about career advice or professional development.

The Power of Showing Up

Still, I was committed to showing up. So on the days when motivation was missing, I simply wrote something else. Anything else. Articles, ideas, reflections.

By the time Cracking the Career Code came out last October, I realized something unexpected—I was already deep into writing my next book, Words to Wonder.

Procrastinating with Purpose

In hindsight, I’ve come to call this practice “Purposeful Procrastination.” It’s the act of honoring your principles—even when you apply them to something unrelated to your original goal.

I could have skipped writing altogether when inspiration for Cracking the Career Code ran dry. Instead, I procrastinated with purpose—and finished two books along the way.

It took me four years to publish my second book. Words to Wonder comes out November 10—just a little over one year since my last.

So if you’re stuck on a project or losing momentum, the answer isn’t to stop. Maybe it’s to procrastinate with purpose—and turn procrastination into progress.

A Final Thought

If you’ve ever felt guilty for procrastinating, maybe it’s time to rethink what progress looks like.
Purposeful procrastination isn’t about avoidance—it’s about momentum. It’s about honoring the discipline of showing up, even when your direction shifts.

You never know what new paths your “distraction” might open.