Dr_Manhattan comments on Working hurts less than procrastinating, we fear the twinge of starting - Less Wrong

142 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 02 January 2011 12:15AM

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Comment author: Dr_Manhattan 02 January 2011 08:27:33PM * 4 points [-]

I think it's flinching away from the pain of the decision to do the work - the momentary, immediate pain

I have actually thought out (but did not practice sufficiently yet) a strategy to address this very problem.

The hack is to have a "ladder" of activities that have low transition pain cost. Sample ladder: Internet->Sci Fi->CS book->Paying bills.

I expect this to differ for people; will report back when I have more results.