I have the same issue, but I interpret it as a case of chronic inertia. As retired as I am and inasmuch as I can pretty much be as active as I please and inasmuch as my back hurts when I get up and do things and because I have a to-do list as long as my arm, I still do things. All I have to do is get started. Once I'm engaged, I'm glued to the task till its complete. I don't like things left incomplete. I've always been like that. When I started teaching in the Bronze Age, I stayed with it assiduously till I retired 40 years later. Of course, I had more energy then and fewer excuses not to get crackin', but it's just a matter of getting myself started and overcoming the inertia. From then on, it's all downhill. BTW there's nothing much more debilitating and energy-sapping than having undone tasks hanging over your head. Every time you pass that broken lock or carpet stain and merely think about rectifying the situation, the demons of regret get energized, not you. And every time you bring a task to completion, you get to experience delight and joy.
You so absolutely perfectly and succinctly named the thing I struggle with---chronic inertia! It's like that whole "objects in motion, stay in motion/objects at rest, stay at rest" thing. I find it hard to navigate sometimes between the motion and rest. I just want to relax! Granted, we're all pretty tired lately, so it makes sense.
You're so right about the demons of regret of small projects too--i think that's why tricking myself helps, because i get started and i also know how good I'll feel when it's done!
I have the same issue, but I interpret it as a case of chronic inertia. As retired as I am and inasmuch as I can pretty much be as active as I please and inasmuch as my back hurts when I get up and do things and because I have a to-do list as long as my arm, I still do things. All I have to do is get started. Once I'm engaged, I'm glued to the task till its complete. I don't like things left incomplete. I've always been like that. When I started teaching in the Bronze Age, I stayed with it assiduously till I retired 40 years later. Of course, I had more energy then and fewer excuses not to get crackin', but it's just a matter of getting myself started and overcoming the inertia. From then on, it's all downhill. BTW there's nothing much more debilitating and energy-sapping than having undone tasks hanging over your head. Every time you pass that broken lock or carpet stain and merely think about rectifying the situation, the demons of regret get energized, not you. And every time you bring a task to completion, you get to experience delight and joy.
You so absolutely perfectly and succinctly named the thing I struggle with---chronic inertia! It's like that whole "objects in motion, stay in motion/objects at rest, stay at rest" thing. I find it hard to navigate sometimes between the motion and rest. I just want to relax! Granted, we're all pretty tired lately, so it makes sense.
You're so right about the demons of regret of small projects too--i think that's why tricking myself helps, because i get started and i also know how good I'll feel when it's done!