Why I worked on a holiday
I worked on Labor Day.
A bit ironic. On the holiday that honors laborers, I was laboring.
Not because I had to, or because anyone asked me to.
Because I had made a commitment to myself that I would have a thing ready going into Tuesday, and that was my last chance to get it done.
I could have done it on Thursday, but I didn’t.
I could have done it on Friday, but I didn’t.
I didn’t do it on Saturday or Sunday, either.
So there I was, on Monday, working. I had made myself a commitment and I was going to meet that commitment.
And why did I wait until Monday?
It wasn’t for any good reason.
It was because I expected it to be hard.
And like most humans, I find it easy to prioritize the comfort of today over doing the uncomfortable, or even painful, thing that bears the promise of long term gains.
And so I need to create systems for myself to support those small steps towards my bigger goals. Such as a self-imposed deadline. Or dedicated time on the calendar, external accountability, gamification, or a whole host of other systems. Admittedly, some work better than others (I’m often experimenting based on what’s working or not working for me), but they’re all better than waiting for “motivation” or “inspiration” to do the hard thing, which may never come.
So let me ask you this…
What are YOU procrastinating on?
What system will you lean into to get the thing done?
September 10, 2026
About the author:
Christina Von Stroh is a leadership coach who helps her clients become wildly successful by applying iterative software development practices to achieve their dreams. Want to work with Christina to help you iterate towards the person you’re becoming?
Book your free strategy session.
