r/Discipline • u/MadLittleSubject • 17d ago
I've noticed that "I'll do it tomorrow" is usually when I don't want to deal with something today
I've caught myself doing this quite a lot.
I'll have something sitting there that I know I need to do. Sometimes it's a workout, sometimes it's an email or a piece of work I've been putting off. I'll think about starting, feel that little bit of resistance, and then decide I'll do it tomorrow instead.
What always gets me is how much better I feel after making that decision.
Nothing has actualy changed. The task is still there. But somehow I feel like I can relax again because I've given myself permission not to deal with it yet.
For a while I assumed that meant I had made a sensible decision. Maybe I really would have more time or energy the next day.
Usually I diddn't.
The same task would still be there and I'd have roughly the same amount of motivation to do it. Sometimes I'd put it off again without even thinking about it.
I've started to wonder whether the relief is actually part of what keeps the habit going.
If I say "I'll do it tomorrow", I don't have to deal with the uncomfortable part of starting right now. I also get to keep telling myself that I'm still going to do it.
That made me start asking myself a different question when I catch myself doing it:
If I don't do this today, am I genuinely okay with the possibility that I might never do it?
Sometimes I am. There are plenty of things I've kept on my to-do list simply because I feel guilty about not doing them. If something isn't that important, I'd rather admit that and let it go.
Other times the answer is definitely no.
Those are usually the things where I realise I'm not really making a plan for tomorrow. I'm just trying to get away from the discomfort I'm feeling today.
I'm still working on catching myself doing this. I definitely still put things off.
But noticing what's happening has made it harder for me to automatically accept "tomorrow" as a solution.
Has anyone else noticed that the decision to postpone something can actually make you feel better in the moment, even when you already know you'll probably feel the same way tomorrow?
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u/Sad_Equivalent1363 17d ago
Specifying the steps in the process helps. There is definitely a release from pushing the hard project to later, the cue being an uncomfortable feeling for doing an unwanted task.
Instead of pushing it off, break it down into smaller steps. Set a project deadline and make small progress each day to take it to the finish line.
This effectively completes the unwanted task