When It’s Not Laziness: A New Way to Look at Getting Stuck

I think we all encounter times when we put things off for a whole lot of reasons. Sometimes we’re just not ready. Sometimes the timing feels off. Sometimes circumstances change. And before you know it, it turns into procrastination. 

To others—or even to yourself—it can look like laziness.

But is it?

Recently, I learned about something called executive dysfunction.

Now, that sounds like a problem for a CEO, right? But it’s actually something that affects everyday people—people like you and people like me.

I don’t know if I’ve ever truly had executive dysfunction, but I’ve definitely had moments where I should have taken care of something and didn’t. I always chalked it up to being young, inexperienced… maybe even a little lazy at times. And sure, sometimes that’s exactly what it is.

But executive dysfunction is a little different.

It’s not that you don’t want to get things done. It’s that you have a hard time getting started. You can have great ideas, good intentions, even a plan on paper—but the execution just doesn’t happen, or it stalls out.

That part really got my attention.

As I think more about this, it also makes me reflect on my Single & Struggling series—especially that very first step.

Because that’s where a lot of people get stuck.

You might be asking yourself:

• Why can’t I get started?
• Why can’t I clean my house?
• Why can’t I get my bills organized?
• Why do I keep putting off things like estate planning?

Those aren’t small things. Those are life-management basics.

And if something like this is playing a role—if it’s part of what’s holding you back—then it’s not something to ignore.

It’s something to address.

Sooner rather than later.

Because this isn’t just about getting through today or checking off a task.

If this is something real for you, then getting the right help—even if that means working with someone who understands it better—isn’t an expense.

It’s an investment.

One that doesn’t just help you now…

It helps you for the rest of your life.

There are plenty of people out there offering solutions—courses, programs, systems—but I’m not here to sell you anything, and I’m certainly not an expert.

What I have learned, though, is this:

Once you can put a name to something, it becomes a lot easier to understand—and a lot easier to start dealing with.

It actually reminds me of when I first learned about impostor syndrome.

That’s something I can definitely relate to—having the skills, experience, and education, but still feeling like it’s not enough. Like you’re not quite qualified to speak up or offer guidance… even when you probably know more than a lot of people around you.

So maybe this is one of those moments.

If what I’m describing here resonates with you—if it strikes a chord—then this might be something worth paying attention to in your own life.

Because it’s one thing to learn about something that doesn’t apply to you.

But it’s something else entirely to learn about something you’ve never heard of… and suddenly realize:

“You know what? I think that might be me.”

And if this doesn’t sound like you, but you’ve learned something from it…

maybe this is something you can share with someone else.

Because it might be exactly what they need to hear.