Why Do I Procrastinate On Easy Tasks Solving The Wall Of Awful

It starts quietly—a quick email, a five-minute form, a single phone call. Nothing urgent, nothing complex. Yet hours pass. The task lingers at the edge of your awareness, growing heavier with each delay. You know it’s easy. You know it won’t take long. So why can’t you just do it?

This isn’t laziness. It’s not poor time management. What you’re experiencing is far more psychological: the Wall of Awful. A term coined by productivity expert Neil Fiore in *The Now Habit*, the Wall of Awful describes the invisible barrier we build between ourselves and tasks that trigger discomfort—even if they’re objectively simple. Understanding this phenomenon is the first step toward dismantling it.

The Psychology Behind Procrastination on Simple Tasks

Procrastination is often misunderstood as a failure of discipline. In reality, it’s an emotional regulation problem. Research from Dr. Timothy Pychyl, a leading procrastination psychologist, shows that people don’t delay tasks because they lack motivation—they delay because they want to avoid negative emotions associated with starting.

Even easy tasks can carry subtle emotional weight: fear of imperfection, boredom, decision fatigue, or the dread of what might come next. A short email might remind you of unresolved conflict. Filling out a form could reopen anxiety about bureaucracy. These micro-stresses accumulate, turning trivial actions into mental obstacles.

The brain treats emotional discomfort like physical threat. When faced with even mild unease, the limbic system—responsible for survival instincts—can override the prefrontal cortex, which handles planning and logic. This creates a reflexive urge to escape, not through action, but distraction: checking messages, scrolling social media, or “organizing” your desktop instead of replying to that one Slack message.

“Procrastination is not about time management. It’s about emotion management.” — Dr. Timothy Pychyl, Carleton University

What Is the Wall of Awful—and Why Does It Grow?

The Wall of Awful isn’t a single task. It’s a pileup of neglected small duties that collectively generate guilt, shame, and overwhelm. Each uncompleted item adds a brick. Over time, the wall becomes so high and dense that even walking toward it feels exhausting.

Here’s how it forms:

• Misjudgment of effort: You assume a task will be harder than it actually is.
• Emotional avoidance: You associate the task with discomfort, so you avoid it.
• Accumulation: One skipped task leads to another; soon, you’re surrounded by undone things.
• Self-criticism: Guilt amplifies the emotional load, making future attempts feel even riskier.

The irony? The longer you wait, the worse the emotional cost. Studies show that procrastinators experience higher stress levels, even during leisure, because unfinished tasks linger in the background like unpaid debts.

Tip: Name your resistance. Ask: “What emotion am I trying to avoid?” Often, simply identifying the feeling reduces its power.

Strategies to Break Through the Wall

Overcoming the Wall of Awful requires rethinking your relationship with small tasks. Instead of demanding willpower, focus on reducing friction and emotional resistance. Here are proven techniques:

1. The Two-Minute Rule (With a Twist)

Popularized by David Allen in *Getting Things Done*, the two-minute rule says: if a task takes less than two minutes, do it immediately. But when procrastination is rooted in emotion, timing alone won’t help. The twist? Pair the action with a reward.

For example: “After I send this email, I’ll make myself a cup of tea.” The reward isn’t bribery—it’s conditioning. You teach your brain that completing the task leads to something pleasant, not pain.

2. Task Surfacing and Brain Dumping

Many tasks remain undone because they’re vague or floating in your mind. Write down every incomplete item—big or small—in one place. Don’t organize yet. Just dump.

Once visible, these tasks lose their ghostly power. You can now categorize them, schedule them, or delete them. Clarity reduces anxiety.

3. Precommitment and Scheduling

Decide in advance when you’ll handle small tasks. For instance: “Every Monday at 10:00 AM, I’ll process my inbox and complete all under-five-minute items.” Precommitment removes the need for repeated decisions, which drain mental energy.

4. Reframe the Task

Instead of labeling a task as “annoying” or “boring,” describe it neutrally: “This is a routine administrative step.” Language shapes perception. Calling something “easy” or “quick” makes it feel more approachable.

5. Use the Five-Second Start

Mel Robbins’ five-second rule works here: when you think of doing a task, count down from five and move before your brain talks you out of it. The goal isn’t completion—it’s initiation. Momentum follows motion.

Traditional Approach	Effective Alternative
“I should do this now.”	“I will do this at 3:15 PM.”
“This is so annoying.”	“This takes two minutes and then it’s done.”
Waiting for motivation	Starting for five seconds
Completing tasks in isolation	Pairing completion with a small reward

A Real Example: Sarah’s Inbox Rebellion

Sarah, a project manager, found herself avoiding her email for days. Not because she was overwhelmed with work—but because a handful of low-stakes messages had piled up: confirming a meeting room, approving a vendor invoice, responding to a colleague’s casual question.

Each one felt trivial. Together, they formed a knot of avoidance. She’d open her inbox, feel a flash of irritation, and close it. Days passed. The guilt grew.

She decided to apply the Wall of Awful strategy. First, she did a brain dump, listing every pending communication. Then, she scheduled a 12-minute slot each morning for “micro-task clearance.” She committed to replying to anything under two minutes—and rewarding herself with a piece of dark chocolate afterward.

Within a week, her inbox anxiety dropped. The tasks hadn’t changed. Her emotional response to them had.

Step-by-Step Guide to Dismantle Your Wall of Awful

Follow this sequence to clear existing backlog and prevent future buildup:

1. Brain Dump: List every small, pending task across work and personal life. Use paper or a digital note—no filtering.
2. Categorize: Group tasks by type (e.g., emails, calls, approvals, reminders).
3. Estimate Time: Assign each a realistic duration. Most will be under 5 minutes.
4. Schedule Micro-Slots: Block three 10-minute windows per week labeled “Wall of Awful Clearance.”
5. Start Small: In your first session, complete only three tasks. Focus on momentum, not volume.
6. Reward Action: After each session, do something enjoyable: stretch, listen to a song, walk outside.
7. Review Weekly: Every Sunday, scan for new micro-tasks and add them to your list before they become bricks in the wall.

Tip: Keep a “Done List” alongside your to-do list. Every time you finish a small task, write it down. Visual progress builds confidence.

Checklist: Prevent Future Buildup

Use this checklist weekly to maintain clarity and reduce emotional load:

• ✅ Conduct a brain dump of all pending micro-tasks
• ✅ Schedule at least two 10-minute clearance sessions
• ✅ Apply the two-minute rule with a reward attached
• ✅ Reframe negative self-talk (“I’m so behind”) into neutral statements (“I’m clearing backlog”)
• ✅ Celebrate completion, not perfection
• ✅ Update your calendar with recurring maintenance slots

Frequently Asked Questions

Isn’t this just overcomplicating simple tasks?

It may seem that way, but the complexity isn’t in the tasks—it’s in the emotional resistance. These strategies address the real barrier: the internal friction that turns small actions into mental burdens. Simplifying the process externally helps bypass internal resistance.

What if I still don’t do the tasks after scheduling them?

If you skip a scheduled session, don’t judge yourself. Instead, investigate: Was the time unrealistic? Were you fatigued? Did the task feel emotionally charged? Adjust the timing, environment, or framing. Procrastination is data—not failure.

Can the Wall of Awful affect relationships?

Absolutely. Unanswered texts, forgotten favors, or delayed RSVPs can strain personal connections. These aren’t signs of carelessness—they’re often symptoms of the same emotional avoidance. Addressing the root cause improves both productivity and relational trust.

Conclusion: Start Small, Stay Free

The Wall of Awful doesn’t collapse in a single effort. It erodes through consistent, gentle action. You don’t need grand resolutions or heroic willpower. You need a shift in perspective: from seeing small tasks as nuisances to viewing them as opportunities for relief.

Every time you complete an easy task, you reclaim mental space. You weaken the habit of avoidance. You prove to yourself that discomfort is temporary—but the payoff is lasting peace of mind.

Today, pick one tiny thing you’ve been putting off. Name the emotion behind it. Set a timer for two minutes. Do it. Then, pause and notice how you feel. Lighter? Calmer? That’s the sound of a brick falling from the wall.

🚀 Your next step matters more than your past delay. Share one task you’ll clear today—or one insight that resonated—in the comments. Let’s dismantle the Wall of Awful, one small win at a time.