Procrastination starts with ambiguity
Procrastination starts with ambiguity
Michael Greenspan · July 20, 2026 Most of what the ADHD brain does happens on autopilot. Once a week, I’ll send you a short reflection: a small nudge to catch yourself in the act, and an action you can consider.
Think about something you’ve been procrastinating on. It’s easy to assume the problem is you: that you “just need to be more organized,” or “just need to be more disciplined.”
But have you ever noticed the link between ambiguity and avoidance?
Try this: Instead of pointing the microscope at all your perceived flaws, point it at the thing you’re avoiding.
- What’s ambiguous or unclear about it?
- What would make it clearer?
- If it were clearer, would you still be avoiding it?
The reframe: You don’t have a discipline problem. You have a clarity problem. The task isn’t waiting on a better version of you, it’s waiting to be made clear. Clear up the ambiguity, and the “willpower” mostly takes care of itself.
These weekly reflections aren’t about doing more or fixing yourself. They’re a moment to slow things down and notice what’s actually going on. Because noticing is usually where the change starts.
— Michael
P.S. These reflections are yours to keep private. But if something surfaces that you’d like to share, just hit reply. I read every one.