The importance of artificial urgencies.

The worst, most debilitating thought is: I have time.

When we think that we have time, then we do not come to the battle to finish it. We get distracted, we delay.

And once we start procrastinating, either because of self-doubt or perfectionism or rationalisation, it becomes increasingly difficult to finish anything. The more we delay, the more we are likely to delay.

How to counter this?

Start with prioritising. Identify the one most important task that needs to be done today. Then put a deadline on it. A deadline that causes just a tinge of anxiety. The deadline that makes doing that task exciting.

When you are looking at a task, the thought in your mind should be, I better get on it, otherwise I won’t be able to finish it by the deadline.