Scared of a new project? Here’s how to get sh*t done in a corporate job

it’s not about time management, but emotions. Learn how perfectionism, ambiguity, and fear of discomfort drive our hesitation and how to shift your mindset for steady progress

Have you ever wondered why we procrastinate on work we need to do?

It would be far more efficient if we made steady progress over time.

I've taken on several extra responsibilities beyond my team's sprint work in recent months.

I've caught myself postponing tasks until deadlines loom—a pattern that surfaced recently when preparing a presentation.

In this short post, we'll reframe this situation to foster healthier progress.

⛏️ The root causes

There are several reasons why we might put off starting a task:

• Ambiguity → We don't know how to approach something, so we avoid taking action.

• Perfectionism → We doubt our ability to excel, so we hesitate to begin.

• Fear of discomfort → Stepping out of our comfort zone is unpleasant. As emotional beings, we instinctively avoid these feelings of discomfort.

If avoiding discomfort has no consequences, then, by all means, don't torture yourself.

However, some situations will escalate if left unattended. Especially at work, we can't afford to freeze in the face of ambiguity.

🌡️ Why this happens

It's not about time management or schedules.

It's about emotions driving our actions. This is my key insight: We are emotional creatures, and our feelings influence our behavior more than any spreadsheet ever could.

Since emotions drive actions, we need to shift our emotional response to tasks—from the discomfort of starting to the fulfillment of making progress.

🧪 Tactics

1 - Focus on smaller milestones, not completion

Thinking about the result can be overwhelming. It often seems too distant, with unclear steps and uncertain outcomes.

Instead, focus on a smaller, more achievable milestone along the way.

Group your milestones as steps toward your ultimate goal. Looking back, you'll see how these steps connect and make sense.

It's unrealistic to think you know exactly what's needed to achieve a years-long goal.

By focusing on the next step, you acknowledge that you'll learn along the way. You remain open to pivoting as you gain new insights. This approach also reduces the burden on your present self. You are distributing responsibilities across various milestones in your journey.

2 - Switch to input metrics

Results often depend on factors beyond our control. If your measure of success is solely completion, you're tying your self-worth to unpredictable outcomes.

Instead, redefine success as taking action—any action, even if it's a tiny step forward.

• Want to write and publish a book? Focus on the time blocks you dedicate to writing.

• Want to create a technical proposal for a big problem at work? Concentrate on the time you spend researching the topic.

3 - Make your inputs a habit

Another benefit of focusing on what you control is the ability to form habits.

Real progress isn't made by cramming the night before a deadline. That's just a temporary fix.

In a lifelong career, continuous learning is key. Like compound interest, habits grow over time. By your 100th day of reading, you'll see far greater results than on day one. Your brain will be pattern-matching more efficiently.

4 - Keep your ongoing priorities visible

Our brains easily compartmentalize and ignore goals that create discomfort.

Instead of allowing your mind to hide these tasks until they become urgent, keep them in plain sight. This familiarity can reduce avoidance.

More importantly, seeing everything in one place shows you how much is on your plate. You'll be less likely to say "yes" to new commitments when you can see all your existing priorities.

🎯 Conclusion

Procrastination isn't a time management issue.

It's an emotional challenge. It's about how you frame the work that needs to be done.

Don't set goals so lofty that you're bound to fail 99% of the time. You'll come to dread even thinking about such goals.

Instead, set yourself up for success. Make yourself a winner every time you make even 1% progress on your goal.

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Here are some good reads for this week:

1. Amazon Frugal Architecture Explained 💰 by

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2. A 3-step framework to never get down-leveled in your behavioral interviews again by

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3. Focus on learning one programming language and accelerate your SWE career by

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4. Why Software Engineers Should Learn How to Sell? by

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   . Your ideas are worth nothing if you can’t communicate them to people. Your overall satisfaction with your job will increase when you feel your ideas get through.