Did I Solve Procrastination?

This is a quick note on the problem of procrastination. This particular solution focuses on the problem of the conflict between what you think you should be doing versus that which your inner-most-self knows that you should be doing.

Today, I feel like I’ve solved the problem of procrastination.

It’s been something that’s troubled me for quite some time. No matter what I read, no matter what I tried, it always seemed to come back.

But now, I believe I’ve figured out the root of it—at least, what works for me. That doesn’t mean it will work for you, but I want to share what I’ve found.

And as always with life, the surprising truth is this: the answer is very simple.

Within myself, there was a constant conflict.

There was what I had planned to do, or decided to do—for example, spending the day doing accounting or having four meetings that are already in the calendar. These are plans—structures created by the brain.

But on the other hand, inside me, there’s a calling.

There’s something beautiful—an excitement, a pull toward something I want to do. And if I look honestly, this excitement is never about playing computer games or watching Netflix. The excitement is often about making an audio post, writing something, talking to someone, or going for a walk.

And when there’s a conflict between the plan and the pull—when, for example, I really want to go for a walk but have told myself I need to do accounting—that’s when something interesting happens:

The brain simply refuses to choose. It procrastinates.

It says: “I don’t want to be part of this conflict. So I’ll just do nothing.”

That’s one scenario.

The other is this: if I don’t consciously ask myself what I’m most excited about right now, then my brain defaults to familiar activities. In my case, it’s playing speed chess or watching completely useless Formula 1 news.

And it does that because it knows those activities will deliver a dopamine hit.

But the only reason it happens is that I didn’t ask myself what’s truly exciting right now.

So what’s my solution?

To follow what is most exciting—as much as I can—every single day.

When I do that, I never run out of tasks that are fun or meaningful. I don’t even have time to procrastinate, because I’m constantly doing what I love.

The key is this:
I have to let go of expectations, planning, and traditional goal-setting.

Because as soon as I create fixed goals or expectations, I create a conflict. And that conflict pulls me away from the present excitement.

To live on the path of excitement, I have to completely surrender and let go of any idea of what might come out of the activity. No attachment to outcome.

And yes, that’s scary.

Most of us feel the need to make money. We carry this fear that if we follow the path of excitement, we won’t be able to support ourselves.

I can’t prove that fear is wrong. But I’m very confident that it is.

I believe that if you follow your path of excitement, the security and safety your soul desires will follow. It will come.

But I can’t promise it.

All I can say is: it works for me. And I know others who live this way too.

I’m very curious about your experience. Every person is different. You have to find your own keys.

But maybe, just maybe, listening to something like this can give you a few new ones.