We often tell ourselves we’ve got all the time in the world to chase what we want. 

And why wouldn’t we? It makes us feel comfortable. 

But here’s the unvarnished truth—we don’t have all the time in the world. Not even close. 

Don’t believe me?

Check out this calculator, which converts how much time we likely have left into hours and seconds. It’s eye-opening. 

Keep in mind, that we spend a third of our time sleeping. 

Adding to this, the longer we live, the faster time passes. 

Living a full life? It demands that we take action sooner rather than later.

There are some things that we all need to stop putting off. 

Here are five of them. 

01) Important relationships 

“I’ll call my family this weekend,” or “I should catch up with an old friend soon,” — we’ve all been there.

But let’s be honest, how often does ‘this weekend’ turn into next month, and ‘soon’ fades into never?

Relationships need time, effort, and genuine connection — things that are all too scarce if you’re always putting them off.

When I first moved abroad, I fell into the procrastination trap myself. I thought I had all the time in the world to reconnect with loved ones back home. Weeks turned into months, and the silence grew.

It took a profound realization, spurred by the famous Harvard Study on Happiness, which shows that close relationships are what keep people happy throughout their lives, to wake me up.

It wasn’t the perfect job, the grand house, or the next big promotion that filled life with joy; it was the relationships nurtured over time.

Want to be happy?

Stop waiting for the ‘right time’ to nurture your bonds.

The right time is now.

02) Taking care of your health

Putting off your health checks, the gym session, or eating right is like ignoring a blinking check engine light in your car. You wouldn’t drive mile after mile knowing you could break down at any moment, right?

Yet, we do this with our bodies all the time.

Or at least I did.

That was until, in my late twenties, I noticed my weight increasing and my energy dropping. 

It was a wake-up call. I started simply by swimming a few times a week, keeping a closer eye on my diet, and making sure to get enough sleep.

Not long after, I began to feel (and look) better. I even became more productive. 

However, I wish I paid more attention earlier. Many of you can. 

Start with the small choices you make today. Every day you delay, you’re not just putting off good health, you’re actively choosing to live with less energy, vitality, and longevity.

 Eat foods that fuel your body, move a little every day, and get enough rest.

Your future self will thank you.

03) Making a career change

Once entrenched in the world of finance, I found myself dreaming of a more expressive life, not spreadsheets and stock trends.

But I delayed, hesitated, and told myself, “Next year might be better” or “I’ll wait for that bonus”. 

In reality, I was waiting for a certainty that would never come.

It was years before I made that career change. Again, it’s something I wish I had done sooner: I felt like I was playing catch up and was only in my mid-twenties. 

Career changes are indeed possible later in life, but they come with increasing complexities. Responsibilities tend to pile up as years go by, making the leap of faith into a new vocation seem ever more daunting. 

If you’re contemplating a career change, consider this: while you’re younger, the stakes might seem high, but they are often lower than they will ever be again.

It’s not just about the financial risks — it’s about the time and energy you have to invest in retraining, in building a new network, and climbing the ladder from a different starting point.

Delaying a career change can often mean never making it happen. While the fear of the unknown is valid, it shouldn’t paralyze you. Change is daunting, but stagnation is regret in disguise.

Don’t wait for the “perfect” moment.

04) Getting your finances under control

“I’ll start saving next month,” we say, but then rent is due, life happens, and suddenly you’re promising your future self the same thing next month, and the month after that.

Here’s the stark reality; money matters. It’s not everything, but it’s important.

It’s the difference between living life on your own terms and being at the mercy of circumstances.

The future we dream about — whether it’s a house, travel, or freedom from the grind — is shaped by the financial decisions we make now, not the ones we postpone. 

It doesn’t have to be complicated.

Stary by paying attention to where your money is going, how much is coming in, and where you can improve.

Create a budget, respect it, and realize that every frivolous expense is a missed opportunity to invest in your future.

It’s time to face the music when it comes to financial health.

Your labor is worthy of a future reward; don’t let procrastination rob you of that.

You can begin with the smallest of steps, but begin today. 

05) Learning new skills 

Think about the last time you said you’d learn a new language, pick up a new hobby, read a book, or update your professional skill set.

If you’re honest with yourself, you’ll realize that “later” is often code for “never.” 

Waiting for the perfect time to start learning something new is a surefire way to ensure you never will.

So, ditch the delays.

The investment in your personal growth starts with the smallest step forward, but you have to take that step today.

Start accruing interest now.

The bottom line 

Life’s short, and the truth is, we don’t have all the time we think we do.

Start small, but start today.

Don’t let procrastination win; your full life is waiting on the other side of action.