How a simple coffee run taught me about procrastination, perfectionism, and fear of failure, and how it might help you.
We’ve all likely experienced that familiar feeling when the holidays end, and you're sitting there Sunday night, mentally preparing for Monday morning, and there’s a sense of dread. But what if the first day back at work doesn’t have to feel like someone hit the reset button on your soul? What if, instead, you can make it fun and playful?
What if it’s about challenging yourself, even with the smallest of missions? Like, say, trying to get coffee in 11 minutes.
Yes, yesterday morning, I had exactly 11 minutes to switch trains. And in that precious window, I realised I’d left my homemade coffee and travel mug on top of the ticket machine at the first station (because, of course I did!). Naturally, I had to fix this. So, I thought: Surely, 11 minutes is enough time to leave the station, find a Vietnamese bakery (because I specifically wanted a Vietnamese coffee), get the coffee, and get back in time for the train, no?
For some of you, this probably sounds like the perfect way to earn a reprimand from your Financial Planner, who’s been begging you to stop taking high-risk investments and just stick with an index fund. 'Keep it safe, friend!' they’d caution. (Hi Tony, if you're reading.) And maybe they’re right. But for others, like me, this coffee mission seemed completely plausible, even if it comes with the very real risk of proving that I make terrible life choices. After all, whoever said life had to be reasonable? Yawn. But, the fun part here is, that I didn’t even know which café to go to, or if I’d find one that was open, so I just had to wing it.
So, what made me think I could pull this off when everyone else would have just said, “Calm TF down, Boo. You’re not going to make it. Just forget the coffee!”
Well, this is what I discovered about myself and what this crazy little coffee mission can teach all of us about procrastination, perfectionism, and fear of failure.
1. I might have an unrealistic perception of time
When I decided to get coffee in 11 minutes, I thought I had ages. The reality? I was probably cutting it way too close. Procrastination often stems from an overly optimistic perception of time. We think we can catch-up later, or assume there’s plenty of time finish something, but we usually don’t. Recognising this habit is key to beating procrastination.
2. I actually love chaos… Even if I won’t admit it
Chaos feels exciting even when it’s just an 11-minute sprint for coffee. There’s a thrill in throwing caution to the wind, running around like a chicken without a head, hoping the universe aligns. Maybe I’m addicted to chaos, maybe I’m just avoiding something, who knows? Either way, I learned that I thrive when things are a little out of control, even if I’d never admit it to anyone. Sometimes, a bit of chaos is exactly what you need to get out of a rut.
3. I love a good challenge… But only when it’s ridiculous
I can’t help it, when something feels impossible, that’s when I’m all in. Forget logic, forget planning, I’ll take on anything that challenges my limits, even if it makes zero sense. Eleven minutes to get coffee and catch a train? Challenge accepted, thank you very much. If you're a perfectionist or procrastinator like me, setting ridiculous challenges is the quickest way to actually get things done. It forces you into action and it’s a rush, not to mention that it gives you something to prove, if only to yourself.
4. I might be great at risk… But planning? Not so much
I risked it all – well, not all, but you get it – to get that coffee, and I didn’t even consider the plan. The result? Stress, panic, and thinking, “What the hell is wrong with me?” The lesson here? Sometimes you can’t always have the perfect plan, and sometimes jumping in without overthinking is the best way forward. There is some freedom in not needing to have everything figured out, and no one really does. Waiting for everything to be figured out before you start is the very cause of procrastination. So why not just start before you’re ready? No doubt you’ll figure it out along the way and if not, you’ll be forced to learn how to deal with failure as well, it’s a double win!
5. Don’t let other people tell you what you can and can’t do
Some people would’ve looked at my 11-minute coffee mission and said, “You can’t do that. It’s impossible!” And, statistically, they’d probably have been right, I was setting myself up for failure, but I didn’t listen to them. Neither did I listen to the voice telling me I was crazy and that it wouldn’t work. And that’s a big part of the lesson: sometimes, people’s doubts are more about their own fears than you and your capabilities. Don’t let other people’s limits hold you back. I took on this mission because I believed I could and if I didn’t succeed, it would’ve been a fun adventure none the less.
6. Failure doesn’t actually kill you (unless you're doing something reckless, obviously)
Okay, so what if I hadn’t made it back in time? What if I had missed the train, coffee sloshing in my face, feeling defeated? I might’ve had a mini existential crisis (very likely) while I waited for the next train. And, I would’ve been late, boo hoo. Would the world have ended? No. Would it have been uncomfortable? Probably, but not fatal. Failure is tough, but it doesn’t define you. In fact, it often teaches you more than success does. It’s more about how you choose to view the failure. If you dust yourself off, have a little giggle, pat yourself on the back for trying and learn something, then it’s a success. It’s not about getting everything right. It’s about trying, failing, learning, and trying again.
7. Perfectionists never settle for good enough, and neither should you (maybe)
I didn’t just want any coffee, I wanted a Vietnamese coffee and if I couldn’t get that, I was ready to walk away from coffee entirely. I know, I know, perfectionism can make us feel like we have to do everything perfectly, or it’s not worth doing at all. However, sometimes good-enough, is good-enough. The skill is recognising when to settle and when to really honour your desire. I could’ve just grabbed whatever coffee was nearby and called it a day, but I also had to ask myself: Is this something I genuinely want? And is it worth pursuing? Sometimes, it’s important to embrace your desire and go for it. If not, don’t feel guilty for settling. The win lies in being honest with yourself about your desires and then deciding whether they’re worth the pursuit.
8. I tend to avoid my emotions (And that’s okay, I guess)
I was super pissed off that I lost my travel mug. But instead of dealing with that emotion, I dove straight into the coffee challenge. Why? Because it was easier to focus on a task than to confront my frustration. I learned that sometimes it’s okay to avoid difficult emotions temporarily, but when it becomes a pattern you need to be careful. Feeling your feelings, whether immediately or hours (or even years) later, is part of the healing process. Learn to sit with discomfort without letting it dictate your actions.
9. I don’t always listen to the voice of reason
That little voice inside me was like, “Maybe just forget the coffee? Let it go.” But instead of listening to reason, I let my rebellious side take over. This is often the case with procrastination: we ignore the voice that tells us to start, and instead, we do something irrational, something that doesn’t need to be done. Maybe that’s okay, but maybe it’s time we learned how to act despite the reasonable voices in our heads. Sometimes, ignoring them is the very thing that gets us into action.
10. I’m more resilient than I think
What if I had failed? What if I missed the train, coffee still in hand, the impossible task not completed? Would I have fallen apart? Would I have berated myself for trying and failing yet again? Probably. But I know I would’ve bounced back and, eventually, laughed. That’s the real win: resilience. It not about getting everything right every single time, it’s about getting back up and trying again, no matter what happens. Resilience is the ability to recover from setbacks and keep moving forward even when the odds are stacked against you, and based on my life, I damn sure have a lot of resilience.
Outcome: Did I get the coffee and make it back in time?
Time was pressing down, I half-jogged back to the station, coffee cup in hand, trying to avoid wearing the coffee. As I reached the platform, the train was already there waiting! I pressed the open-door button, and with a satisfying whoosh, the door opened just in time for me to step inside. The door closed immediately behind me, and the train pulled off. I couldn’t help but smile. If I had been even two seconds later, I would have missed it.
Was it a close call? Yes. Had I shaved three years off my life expectancy? Absolutely. But it wasn’t just about getting the coffee or making the train. It was about acknowledging a desire, trusting myself, pushing through the stress, and showing up, even when it seemed impossible.
Bonus Lesson
11. I learn from my mistakes (and I repeat them): Allow me to introduce, the 7-minute coffee challenge
The next day, I had seven minutes between my train and bus. And guess what? I did it again. Why? Because I had learned from my 11-minute coffee escapade that I could push the limits even further, and be more of a clown than the day before. If I failed? No big deal. But I had to try. The coffee? I savoured every last sip, but the real satisfaction came from knowing that I could achieve anything if I just gave it a shot. The true win was in rising to the challenge again, gaining confidence from the day before and becoming less afraid to fail. In fact, I was able to approach it with a more light-hearted, playful Mission Impossible, kind of attitude.
Your turn: Set your own 11-minute daily challenge
For those of you who are perfectionists, procrastinators, and who fear failure here’s my challenge for you: Set your own impossible 11-minute daily challenge even if it’s just for the first day back at work. What's one thing you can do in 11 minutes, perhaps something small, but meaningful, that’ll help you break free from the post-holiday slump and start the new year with momentum toward breaking old patterns and creating new habits. Maybe you’ll attempt to read the first chapter of that book you’ve been meaning to get to, or spend 11 minutes brainstorming a new hobby you’ve been meaning to start. Whatever it is, make it something that feels a little bit out of reach. Why? Because starting the year off with a challenge (big or small) will remind you that you’re capable of way more than you think, even when it feels impossible.
Final thoughts: So maybe I’m a little crazy (yes, definitely), and I own it!
The best lesson from this coffee mission is knowing that I am human, I fail, I win, I make mistakes, and I still get angry at myself about a lost mug. But guess what? Failure is not the end of the world and life is bloody messy. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is face something that scares you or feels impossible and just try. Because trust me, the act of trying is truly where the magic of life happens.
P.S. What about you?
I want to hear from you. Have you ever tried something ridiculous or impossible? Drop me a comment and let’s talk about how you’ve embraced the chaos, faced your fears, or taken on your own impossible challenge, particularly if you defied what other people had said.
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This article is authored by Nicole Sultana, who holds a Post Graduate Degree in Spiritual Care, a Post Graduate Certificate in Business (Marketing), and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Exercise & Sports Science/Human Movement. In addition, she is a Certified Therapeutic Sound Practitioner and a Death Doula. Nicole is the founder of Sound Consciousness, a company that offers wellbeing strategies and therapeutic sound practices to help individuals achieve peak performance in their professional lives, relationships, and personal aspirations.
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