Deferring life is a risk. And there are degrees of risk. If your plan is to work consistently at an average job and defer life until 65 there's the risk you die first, but at least you had your weekends free.

If your plan is to work double hard and smart on something that may pay off sooner, there's the risk you burn out and the opportunity costs of those additional working hours (not spending time with friends, family, hobbies, for instance).

I saw a show on TV once, and don't remember what it was, but they had a guy in the middle of nowhere working his butt off every day. He said something to effect of "I work like a horse so that my children can work like dogs, so that my grand children may work like humans some day". That stuck with me. I realised I could have it much worse, and the only reason I might not choose to work like a horse is because I earn more than enough to be pretty comfortable working my 8 hour day. But the rewards if I did work like a horse... And if somebody else can do it, then I can push through the half-starts and frustrations you mentioned.

What's the point of living to less than my full potential?