[hoc]

I think the best part here is "spend the next hour" on that thing. Don't go for success or finishing anything.

Just spend that one hour right now.

It's the only thing that ever helped me with these blocking situations. Afterwards I'm usually warmed up and curious.

Thanks for reminding me, because I'll only feel the whole overwhelming abstract thing instead if the situation has gotten really bad.

[MobiusHorizons]

For me when a task is overwhelming enough that I have been procrastinating on it for a while, or have attempted to start it a few times unsuccessfully, the thought of working on it for a whole hour is usually too much. But I can usually identify some trivial first step and say to myself “I’ll spend 15 minutes on that first step”. If I can get into the task, 15 minutes can easily become hours, at least until I find some decision overwhelming again.

[hoc]

If it's just 15 minutes, I'll do that tonight :)

But I get your point. I wanted to cite the original comment, though. It's true that the entry point has to be chosen according to the individual and the task at hand... as long as that's not something that has to be chosen so wisely that I should take time to reason about first :)

[MobiusHorizons]

It’s very possible we mean different things by procrastination. I’m describing things I feel enormous pressure to complete, but also feel completely overwhelmed by. In this case I can spend time on the task, but won’t make any progress. Procrastinating is usually done out of desperation, seeking for some way to feel better to hopefully return to the task and make progress. Everything I do is pretty miserable while the task remains to be done. I’m trying to give myself a way to start. “I’ll just do it tonight” would be nearly unthinkable.

[hoc]

Nah, I meant the 15 mins would be even easier to be delayed again. Towards "tonight" right away, because it's just 15 minutes, just to re-schedule it for tomorrow when "tonight" has arrived. It's just 15 mins after all, right. "Could do it anytime..."

I'd think the definitions seem similar. The avoidance strategies usually have slightly different hotspots, though.