/thoughts - procrastination | intentions | overcoming

We've all been there: that dreaded deadline looms closer and closer, but you don't feel like working on it. Maybe you convince yourself you can do it later, or you distract yourself by completing less important tasks. More often than not, the cycle keeps repeating and the suffering increases.

But if we stop to ask ourselves "why" we procrastinate, we would find that the underlying reason is a lack of interest. At least, it always seems to be the case for me. And a lack of interest is not something to be taken lightly - it could mean the difference between a subpar, unsatisfactory outcome and an outstanding one. The problem doesn't end there, though: after all, interest can't be forced.

One advice we hear often is to "do what you love". I think that's an utopian ideal, since not everyone has that luxury. In the long term, absolutely yes, you should find a career that excites you. But short term? Maybe you have to work on a project that doesn't appeal to you. Passion doesn't just not help, it actively works against you; that side project starts to look real appealing now. This is where discipline comes in.

Discipline is doing something you don't love but still need to do. It's how you get the good grades, it's how you get that job, it's how you build good relationships. The key to discipline, like so many have said, is the comfort zone. Or more accurately, you need to lock yourself out of the comfort zone and throw away the key. The hardest part isn't even getting out: recently you finally went to the gym, or gathered up your guts and asked someone out, or just confined yourself to the desk and wrung out that essay. No, the hardest part is taking that leap and throwing away the key.

I've been struggling with throwing away the key, and the problem is that I keep finding excuses and just put it in my pocket, convincing myself that it's "for a rainy day". But it can be so easy to slip back into the comfort zone if you have the chance to. So how do we fight this? The answer is consciousness and intentions.

Habits are powerful; once formed, those routine tasks consume less brainpower and you don't hesitate to do it anymore. This applies to both productive and leisure habits. The problem, of course, is that leisure habits form much easier. The solution? Nip it in the bud, but if it's already grown, burn it to the ground.

Being conscious of your thoughts is the first step; self-awareness is not just difficult, it is tiring to maintain. How then? Everyone has different techniques: meditation, taking breaks, etc. I find that noise-cancelling headphones and closing my eyes works for me.

Controlling your thoughts with purposeful intent is the second. Every move you make, every non-trivial thought you think, ask yourself: will this help me achieve my goals? If not, what do I do next? Taking breaks is good, distractions are not. Scrolling too much? Take the leap and uninstall. Gaming too much? Put the console away. Recognize what's affecting your progress and actively work on resolving it.

Final stretch: you've found your technique. Now, find your schedule. Discipline stems from consistency. When you've done something over and over, even if you don't like doing it, that habit you've formed will take over, automatically make you do it and free your thoughts from dwelling on it. Track your activity, time it, see what you spend time on. Visibly measuring time lost is a hell of a motivator. I don't like the fact that I spent more than a few hours gaming yesterday. So I'm gonna make sure I never hit anything close to that number again.

Bonus: Inspired by the famous no zero days Reddit thread that has helped me a lot.

TL;DR: Procrastination is the modern plague, intentional discipline is the cure.