Why Discomfort Makes You Procrastinate (Even When You Know You Shouldn’t)?

In my last two posts, I wrote about how the fear of failure and fear of success can trigger procrastination. But there’s another powerful factor we often overlook: discomfort.

Sound familiar?

“This task feels too overwhelming, boring, or frustrating — I’ll do it later.”

That’s not just poor planning — it’s an emotional response.

Our brains are wired to seek pleasure and avoid pain. It’s a fundamental truth of neurobiology and behavioral psychology. When something feels unpleasant, frustrating, or emotionally draining, we push it aside — not because it’s hard, but because it’s uncomfortable.

The Problem: Avoiding discomfort doesn’t solve it

Putting off a task might bring momentary relief, but it almost always makes things worse. The tension builds. The discomfort doesn’t disappear — it turns into stress. And the task? Still waiting.

Even if you love what you do, not every part of the process is enjoyable. Growth also involves unglamorous, tedious work.

Children avoid things they “don’t feel like doing.”In adults, that same behavior isn’t just unproductive — it’s a sign of emotional immaturity.

Real progress begins with accepting discomfort.

How to push through it? Here are a few proven strategies:

→ Focus on the reward. Don’t fixate on the task itself — imagine how you’ll feel when it’s done. Relief, lightness, pride? Picture that moment.

→ Start with a small step. James Clear (author of Atomic Habits) suggests the 2-minute rule: do a version of the task that takes two minutes or less. Action creates momentum.

→ Motivation follows action. Waiting until you “feel ready” rarely works. Start even when it’s uncomfortable. Motivation often shows up after you begin.