What Climbing a Mountain in the Cold Taught Me About Procrastination

Chào các bạn, Hello Friends,Today, I let myself get distracted for hours. The kid at the homestay wanted to play, someone called me — and honestly, it was nice. Connecting with people felt good. But still, I knew I could have finished this much earlier.The Uncomfort Zone is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.I kept telling myself I’d get to it later — when I felt "ready." Funny enough, I found clarity in an unexpected place: a cold, misty mountain trail.I’m writing this from Trạm Tấu, shortly after coming back from the peak of Sa Mu. The hike was intense. The weather was awful — thick mist, freezing cold, no views. The kind of conditions that make you wonder why you even bothered. My feet were soaked, the terrain was muddy and slippery, and at one point, I wanted to turn back. The mist was so thick I couldn’t see two meters ahead, and I thought: What’s the point?But instead of giving up, I told myself: Just make it to that corner. When I reached the corner, I said: Just make it to that ridge. One tiny step after the other — that’s all it took.That’s when I realized: when I’m climbing, I never think about how far I have to go — I just focus on what’s right in front of me. But when I sit down to write, build something new, or make a big decision? Suddenly, I’m overwhelmed. I scroll. I clean my kitchen. I tell myself I’ll start when I "feel ready." Sound familiar?For the longest time, I thought procrastination was a time management problem — if I just planned better or built more discipline, I’d fix it. Turns out, that’s not it at all. Psychologists like Adam Grant explain that procrastination isn’t about time — it’s about emotions. We avoid tasks because they make us feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or exposed.It’s not laziness — it’s self-protection. Avoiding the work gives us a short-term sense of relief, even if it leaves us feeling worse in the long run.That’s why breaking things down — step by step, like hiking — works better than “pushing harder.” Tiny, low-pressure actions calm the anxiety that’s actually driving the avoidance. When I started treating my writing like I treat mountain trails — one small step at a time — I stopped feeling stuck.And sometimes, those tiny steps are even smaller than you think. Don’t forget to breathe — slowly, deeply. Don’t forget to drink some water. When everything feels overwhelming, even those simple acts can reset your mind and make the next step feel possible.I’m learning this the hard way right now. My social media engagement has been low lately, and doubt has been creeping in. It’s easy to let that spiral — to stare at the numbers and question what I’m doing. But I’m trying to remind myself: numbers don’t tell the full story. One step at a time, keep going. That’s what matters.I know I have a lot of privilege — the freedom to travel, to write, to reflect on these things. Not everyone has that space, and it’s something I think about a lot. It’s one of the reasons I feel so driven to share what I learn — I’ve been handed so much, and I want to pay it forward in meaningful ways.That’s also why I’ve been digging into this procrastination thing. In my survey, founders kept mentioning struggles with procrastination, motivation, and staying consistent. It’s not just me — it’s something we’re all battling, especially when we’re building things on our own.Next week, I’ll be sharing more insights from the survey — what founders are facing and what’s actually helping them move forward.If that sounds interesting, I’d love for you to subscribe so you don’t miss it. The Uncomfort Zone is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.More than that, I’d love to hear your story. If you’ve wrestled with procrastination — or found a way to push past it — please reach out. I want to feature stories from people who’ve been there.What’s the one step you know you need to take right now? The tiniest, easiest one — the one you can’t talk yourself out of? Start there. Don’t forget to breathe. Don’t forget to drink some water. You’ve got this.Procrastination isn’t something to beat yourself up over — it’s something to understand. When you see it as an emotional response, not a personal failing, it’s easier to move forward.Keep it simple, keep it fresh, smile and let it go!Yours truly, TrungP.S.: Enjoyed this? Forward it to a friend who’d love it too. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theuncomfortzone.substack.com