I’ll Fix It Later

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“I’ll Fix It Later” and Other Lies Coders Tell Themselves: A Deep Dive into Procrastination in Programming

"I’ll clean up the code tomorrow*."
"It’s just a quick hack – I’ll refactor it later."
"Let me just watch one more tutorial before I start..."*

Sound familiar?

Procrastination in coding isn’t just a time management issue — it’s a mindset trap, a productivity killer, and sometimes, a subtle form of self-sabotage. Whether you're a seasoned developer or a fresh learner, you’ve probably danced with procrastination in some form. Let’s talk about why it happens, how it shows up, and most importantly — how to break the cycle.

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Why Do Coders Procrastinate?

1. Fear of Complexity

Sometimes, we stare at the screen not because we don’t want to code, but because we’re intimidated. The feature is huge. The bug is mysterious. The task? Ambiguous.

So we delay — waiting for “clarity” that rarely comes on its own.

2. The Perfectionism Trap

“I’ll write it once I fully understand the best way to do it.”

Translation: I’m afraid of getting it wrong.

Perfectionism disguised as preparation often leads to analysis paralysis. The perfect plan doesn't exist — but progress does.

3. Overwhelm from Scope Creep

Ever started building something simple, and before you know it, you're planning an entire architecture redesign? Yeah. That.

When tasks balloon in our minds, we tend to put them off instead of breaking them down.

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Common Lies Coders Tell Themselves

Let’s call them out.

• “I’ll fix it later.”
  Spoiler: You won’t. It’ll sit in your tech debt list until it breaks something in production.

• “I need to be in the right mindset to code.”
  Coding isn’t a romantic art form that needs candlelight and jazz. Start small — the flow will follow.

• “I’m being productive by researching.”
  Watching your 7th YouTube tutorial on React doesn’t count if you haven’t opened your code editor in three days.

• “It’s just a side project. No pressure.”
  This one gives us permission to delay indefinitely. You started it for a reason — give it some love.

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Breaking the Cycle: How to Out-code Procrastination

✅ Start Ugly

Your first draft of code doesn’t have to be beautiful. Let it be messy. Let it compile. Clean it up after. Progress > polish.

✅ Set Micro-Goals

Instead of saying, “I’ll finish the login feature,” say, “I’ll connect the form to the API.” Small wins build momentum.

✅ Use the 10-Minute Rule

Tell yourself you’ll code for just 10 minutes. Chances are, you’ll get into the zone and keep going. Starting is the hardest part.

✅ Make It Public

Share your progress on GitHub, Twitter, or with a friend. Social accountability adds subtle pressure to keep moving.

✅ Embrace Imperfection

Bugs happen. Bad code happens. That’s how great code eventually happens.

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Final Thoughts

Procrastination in coding isn’t a moral failure — it’s a habit. One that can be rewired with awareness, intention, and a little bit of action (even if it's messy).

The next time you catch yourself thinking, “I’ll fix it later,” ask yourself: Will I really? Or am I just giving myself permission to delay what matters?

Start now. Even if it’s bad.
Especially if it’s bad.
Because that’s how you get good….