This works!

My variation of this technique works like this:

Say I’m writing a paper (I’m in an MBA program right now). If I find myself procrastinating, and I become conscious of it (it’s such a perniciously unconscious thing sometimes) I force myself to create the file on my computer, name it, create the title page, the headers, footers, etc. This physical act of starting the paper a) makes me feel like I’m already half done and b) usually is enough to kick start me. Not always, but usually. Alternatively, just forcing myself to write one line usually breaks the block.

Anyway, the problem is sometimes I forget this technique or am just in such denial that I don’t admit to myself that I’m procrastinating.

Actually - I should be writing a paper right now.

KG