I lack motivation to begin working

While your motivation can fluctuate up and down, it usually isn’t the main reason why you procrastinate. Don’t get me wrong; you need motivation for action. What I am saying is that you usually have some motivation, the problem is just that motivation is lower than the resistance/discomfort which is caused by just thinking about a work.

When you feel like you want something to be done, it means you have motivation. The problem is you can’t make yourself to do the work that is between you now and the reward that comes later:

You will be able to do the work, when your motivation (even if it is low) is stronger than the negative feelings (feeling of how you don’t feel like doing it now) caused by thinking about the task.

So the main question is not how to increase motivation, but how to decrease intensity of negative feelings which prevent you from beginning and finishing a task.

All negative feelings come from your thoughts. When you think about how long a task will take, this will most likely trigger some sort of negative feeling, which will make it harder for you to begin a task. There are all sorts of thoughts you might have regarding a task. The more thoughts about the task, the more negative feelings will they cause and less likely will be for you to begin working.

On the other hand, the less you think about the task, the less negative feelings you will have to “fight” with motivation to overcome them. Thinking less by calming your mind is your main weapon against procrastination.

Created with

Procrastination therapy:

I lack motivation to begin working

Contact me!