The Problem
The task itself might not even be hard, but thinking about it triggers anxiety. So you avoid it, which creates more anxiety about not doing it.
Strategies to Overcome It
- 1Name the specific fear: "I am afraid that..." — putting it into words reduces its power.
- 2Do the easiest 5% of the task first to prove it is not as bad as your brain imagined.
- 3Use the "worst case, best case, most likely case" exercise to reality-check your anxiety.
- 4Pair the dreaded task with something comforting (favorite drink, good music).
Your 2-Minute Action
Write down: "The thing I am avoiding is ___ and I am afraid that ___." Just naming it takes away half its power.