The decision... between determination and implementation?

Writing or signing a decision is a pivotal moment, especially when we know it will be implemented. This is when the decision transforms from something we have decided upon into a final decision that will be written down and archived for later evaluation. For judges, for example, a decision is not just a professional opinion; it is a document that determines the fate of individuals, and is read through the eyes of the law, justice, the public, and perhaps history. Ironically, the moment to write it does not come easily. Many judges, lawyers, and other professionals face a painful and well-documented phenomenon: the procrastination of writing a decision, even though it was made internally. In this context, retired Judge Peter McQuechlin wrote a candid article in Slaw , admitting that—despite his extensive experience—he frequently procrastinated writing his judicial rulings. But he did not procrastinate because he did not know what his decision was, but rather because he feared the responsibility of translating it into words. This blog post sheds light on this important phenomenon and provides practical tools for understanding and dealing with it.

Why do we postpone implementing a decision we have decided to make?

McQuechlan explains simply that the problem wasn't in not making the decision, but in writing it down. "I knew the outcome, but I wasn't writing it down," he says. This is what psychology calls the " translation gap ": between what we know internally and what we express externally. At some point, the task shifts from "internal decision" to "external expression," and procrastination sets in. Writing, he describes, requires clarity, logic, and narrative. But it also requires courage. Because a written decision is final, it may be reviewed and criticized. This dread, even among judges, makes getting started difficult. Procrastination becomes an unconscious means of escaping anxiety, not ignorance.

So, the question is not, “Do you know the decision?” but, “Are you willing to bear it publicly?”

The stronger the word, the more frequently it is written.

What makes matters even more complicated is that the decisions that are postponed are often the most important. There is a profound paradox: We postpone the decisions that matter most to us because these decisions are laden with meaning, responsibility, and consequences!
A judge who knows that their decision will affect a person's life, or the future of a complex case, feels a different weight. Not because the decision is logically difficult, but because it is psychologically burdensome. We write our decisions, but at the same time, we reveal ourselves: our vision, our values, and our interpretation of the facts. This makes the act of writing itself exhausting. Every word becomes the subject of analysis, every line represents a commitment. The result? We procrastinate because we (unconsciously) believe that delaying will protect us from a possible error, or from possible criticism.

Writing as Confrontation: Why Are We Afraid of the White Paper?

McQuechlan explains that what he was really afraid of was getting started. The idea was there, but the blank page held a sense of dread. The mind began to ask troubling questions: Is this style appropriate? Does the presentation make sense? What if someone reads it and finds fault with it? This kind of procrastination has nothing to do with laziness. It's a psychological defense against what we call in psychology "overhead writing "—that what you write shows you. You're not just crafting words; you're crafting yourself through them.
The result?
Hesitation. Frequent review. Procrastination. And the more hesitation, the more pressure, and the simple task begins to turn into a psychological mountain that is difficult to climb.

Procrastination does not lighten the burden, it doubles it.

The interesting thing the author mentions is that procrastination doesn't feel comfortable, but rather additionally exhausting. While he was postponing writing, the decision was constantly running through his mind. He wasn't free from the task, but rather mentally trapped by it. In neuroscience, we know that the brain retains unfinished tasks as a cognitive burden. That is, you drain your mental energy even if you haven't actually started. And every day of procrastination increases the feeling of guilt and makes returning to the task more difficult.

the solution?
Get started. Even if the beginning is simple or imperfect. Simply sitting down and writing releases tension and restores your sense of control.

Steps to stop procrastinating in writing and implementing important decisions

McQuillan shares a set of practical strategies that have helped him and suggests applying them to anyone who is struggling with making a written decision:

• Write just one paragraph instead of writing the entire resolution at once.

• Separate the thinking stage from the writing stage , as mixing them increases the pressure.

• Write the draft freely, then review it later . Edit after expressing.

• Don't wait for inspiration, summon it . Motivation comes after you start, not before.

• Forgive yourself for procrastination, and start over without blame .

All of these tools are not productivity gimmicks , but human ways to overcome real internal resistance.

An unwritten decision doesn't protect you...it restricts you.

At the end of his article, McQuillan says he wished he had understood these things at the beginning of his judicial career. Because he realized—as every procrastinator does—that an unwritten decision doesn't give you peace of mind; it steals your energy day after day. Procrastination, at its core, isn't laziness. Rather, it's a sign that the mind is facing an anxiety, fear, or responsibility it hasn't yet internalized. But the solution isn't to run away, but to confront it gradually. By starting, even with a single line.
Next time you find yourself putting off a decision you know deep down, remember: Clarity doesn't come from waiting, it comes from doing .

To learn more about procrastination and how to implement your decisive decisions, buy the book Solving the Procrastination Puzzle now.