The Hidden Costs Of Putting Things Off

We all put things off – sometimes it’s because we’re tired, sometimes it’s because we’re unsure what the next step is, and sometimes, if we’re honest, it’s because we just don’t want to deal with it. That’s fine when it comes to little things like laundry or tidying up, but when procrastination comes into areas like health, money, or legal planning, it can build up into a cost that might not be obvious (until it’s too late), but that could definitely be big. With that in mind, keep reading to learn more about the hidden cost of putting things off.

There’s an idea that we’ll have more time later, perhaps when work slows down, when the kids are older, when we’ve finally had a proper holiday, and so on. But time is a very stubborn thing, and it’s actually just going to keep moving forwards whether you’re ready for that or not. And the longer you wait to sort out certain things, the more expensive they tend to become. 

It’s true with small things, like ignoring a leaky tap until it’s a flooded kitchen, but it’s also true with bigger things. Think about the appointments you never made, debts that just keep growing, paperwork that piles up, and more. It doesn’t feel urgent, but it actually is, and it’ll get to a point where it’s all you can think about, which is bad for your mental and, eventually, physical health. 

Of course, everyone means to take better care of themselves, but many of us live thinking that we’ll just get round to it, and you’ll keep ignoring that ache or the check-up you know you really need to have for your teeth or eyes. But the thing is that all of this matter, because the earlier you tackle health issues, the easier they are to treat, or even avoid. 

Waiting doesn’t just cost you money – it costs you peace of mind as well, and it’s just going to add worry and uncertainty into your life, and if you’re not careful it’s going to make things a lot less manageable, meaning everything becomes more complicated. 

There’s a moment in every adult’s life when they realise no one is coming to sort things out for them – if your paperwork’s a mess, it stays a mess. If your plans for the future are vague, they stay vague. If you don’t make decisions, they’re made for you – either by default of by others who may not know what you would have wanted. 

That extends to something as important as end of life planning, which is an uncomfortable thing to think about, and no one actually wants to talk about it, but the problem is that not talking about it doesn’t stop it from eventually becoming important – and perhaps even urgent. In fact, the longer you wait, the more stressful and expensive it can become for the people around you, which is the last thing you’ll want to happen. 

One of the most common excuses people give for not getting their affairs in order is that it feels overwhelming or expensive, but very often the real problem is the uncertainty. They just don’t know what’s involved or what the costs really are, and a lot of the time people overestimate the cost of making a will, not realising that basic wills can be very affordable, especially compared to the cost (legal and emotional) of not having one at all. So it’s wise to get this kind of thing done and to do your research because it might not be as scary as you think. 

One of the most sobering realisations you’re going to make when you’re an adult is that your procrastination doesn’t just affect you – the fact is that when you delay certain decisions, you’re just pushing the burden of them onto other people, like your partner, your children, your business colleagues, and your friends, for example. And they might just not be in a position to deal with the issue like you could do it. 

Of course, we’re not saying you’ve got to become perfect overnight and get everything done, but it does mean you should think about who would be left to deal with the problem if you don’t get on with it and sort it out. It could be that understanding that is the thing that spurs you into action. 

When we think about wasting money, we often think about spending splurges or buying unnecessary things, but the truth is we lose more money with the things we put off that we realise – and it can be a massive amount. 

We’re talking about things like not switching to a better deal when we find one, or not cancelling that unwanted subscription, or not fixing something when it was a small job and now it’s a big one that costs a lot more. These are huge money mistakes, but they do add up, and over the years they can turned into hundreds or even thousands you could have put to better use. 

The worst part is that you don’t really notice it at the time, and it’s only later, when you’re wondering where your money is going and having to tighten your belt a bit, that you realise you could have saved more with some forethought. 

What is it that you’re putting off because you think you’ll be able to catch up with it all later? There’s probably something because this is something most people are guilty of to some extent. If it’s something like housework or binge-watching a new TV show you missed, then it might be true, you might have time, but with other things the idea might not always work out, and that’s where the problem can really start. 

The fact is that some opportunities are time-sensitive, and sometimes the longer you wait, the faster costs rise. Plus, there are conversations that can’t be done at another time, and those might be all-important ones. So yes, you might think you’ve got time, perhaps all the time in the world, but sometimes that time never happens and you’ll have missed out. 

We’re not trying to scare you, but we are gently nudging you to think about just how long you’ve been putting that one thing off, and perhaps now it’s time to start dealing with it before it’s too late.

The best way to beat the hidden cost of a delay or delays is to stop aiming for perfection and to just start – anywhere. It really doesn’t matter what you do first, but it is important that you pick something and get on with it, without getting frustrated or sidetracked. So you can pick one email, make an appointment for one check-up, make one important decision, and then you can let that momentum carry you forward to do everything else that needs doing before it’s too late. 

The surprising thing about dealing with the stuff you’ve been avoiding is that it feels amazingly satisfying once it’s done, and you’ll be a lot more clear-headed and a lot more comfortable. Plus, most of the time it can be done quickly, and although you might be uncomfortable for a short while, knowing that it’s all done and dusted means you can sit back and relax properly, which is something everyone needs to be able to do more often.