The Thief of Time

The Thief of Time: How Procrastination Stole 15 Years of My Life and What I Did About It

*This article was updated and revised on the 23rd January 2025

By Dr. Scott Zarcinas, Founder, 818: Unlocking Your Life

Break Free from Procrastination: Turn Your Dreams into Reality

Have you ever caught yourself saying “I’ll do it tomorrow”… for weeks, months, or even years?

My clients tell me they struggle with procrastination, and like them you might find yourself:

  • Watching opportunities slip through your fingers.
  • Feeling paralysed when facing important goals.
  • Making excuses that sound reasonable… until years have passed.

The Real Cost of Waiting

I know this journey intimately. For 15 years, I was the self-proclaimed “Professor of Procrastination.”

My dream of becoming a writer gathered dust while I perfected the art of making excuses. My favourite? “I can’t write because I don’t have a computer!”

Never mind that pens and paper existed—I had mastered the art of self-deception.

In fact, I procrastinated for OVER 15 years before I finally wrote the first words to my book, The Golden Chalice.


The Golden Chalice by Scott Zarcinas

Read More About the Golden Chalice >>

The Hidden Truth About Procrastination

They say procrastination is the thief of time for a reason… and it stole 15 years of my writing life.

But here’s the unfortunate thing—I knew I was procrastinating but I didn’t know why.

What I discovered after finally writing my book, The Golden Chalice, was eye-opening.

My procrastination wasn’t about laziness or lack of resources. It was rooted in something deeper: the fear of failure, the terror of rejection.

But here’s what’s crucial to understand: Fear is just one piece of the puzzle.

Fear is just one cause of procrastination. There are lots more, but if you don’t know what’s holding you back you are oblivious to how to stop it.

The Flea Circus

The Warning Signs You’re Stuck in the Maze:

  • Your daily reality clashes with your aspirations.
  • Time accelerates while your dreams remain frozen.
  • Decision-making becomes harder as self-doubt creeps in.
  • You find yourself making the same excuses year after year.
  • Your potential feels trapped behind an invisible wall.

This internal struggle creates a devastating ripple effect. Your mental wellbeing suffers. Relationships strain. Career progression stalls. Financial growth becomes stunted. The cycle of stress, procrastination, and fear tightens its grip.

And another day passes and you have not taken the steps towards fulfilling your dreams (or in my case, written my book)…

This is why you need to uncover the real reasons you procrastinate.

Procrastination is just a symptom of something underneath it, and it’s usually something to do with how you think, feel, and react.


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Breaking Free: The Path Forward

In her book, The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, nurse Bronnie Ware documented the most common regrets that her patients spoke about in their last moments here on earth.

In her experience, common themes surfaced again and again. Although there were regrets such as, ‘I wish I hadn’t worked so hard,’ and, ‘I wish I had let myself be happier,’ the number one regret of the dying is this:

I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

So the question you must ask is: Do I have the courage to live life on my own terms?

Don’t let this be your biggest regret. Don’t let procrastination rob you of your dreams. Don’t wait until it’s too late to realise that “one day” never comes unless you make it happen.

The truth is simple but powerful:

Until you understand why you procrastinate, you’ll keep repeating the same patterns.

But once you identify your personal procrastination triggers, you can finally break free.


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Your Journey to Action Starts Now

Ready to stop being a “gunna” and start being a doer? Ready to understand what’s really holding you back?

The journey to overcoming procrastination and living the life you want begins with a single decision—your decision.

Don’t let another year slip away. Don’t let procrastination steal any more of your dreams.

Click the link below and set up a free no-obligation Discovery Session so we can help you with a single, simplified solution to create the life you always wanted. We’ll discuss:

  • The hidden causes of procrastination.
  • Your personal procrastination profile.
  • Proven strategies to break free from inaction.
  • Daily actionable steps to maintain momentum.

Your journey towards a happier future starts now. Let’s do this.


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Dr. Scott Zarcinas | Doctor, Author, SpeakerAbout the Author: Dr. Scott Zarcinas (aka DoctorZed) is an author, doctor, and transformational life coach with over 15 years of experience helping professionals achieve authentic success. Based in Adelaide, South Australia, he specialises in transforming potential into performance through personalised coaching programs.


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At 818: Unlocking Your Life, we help proactive people thrive the SMART way. We give you the keys to a happy, healthy and wealthy mindset so you can free your time and live the life you always wanted. 818: Unlocking Your Life gives regular workshops, seminars, presentations, and courses to serve those who want to make a positive difference through positive action.

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