When I finally do the bothersome task, I end up doing it again. Once I start, it's not a big deal, and I wonder why I put it off.

However, strangely enough, it feels so bothersome before starting. I know I have to do it, and I'm aware that not doing it will make things more bothersome later, but in that moment, my body just won't move. It's quite strange, but when I think about it, it seems there's a reason behind it.

First of all, it seems that people are the most reluctant to start. It's easy to hop on something that's already rolling, but pushing something that's at a standstill is particularly hard. This applies to exercise, organizing documents, or even installing something at home. Even though it only takes 30 minutes or an hour once I start, pressing the 'start button' feels so bothersome. The brain tends to overestimate the task. The image of the bother feels much larger than the actual labor.

Another factor is uncertainty. Before starting, the outcome is vague in my mind. I can't tell if it will go well, if it will take longer than expected, or if problems will arise in the middle. So, the brain instinctively chooses "not now, later." Right now, it's relatively comfortable. On the other hand, once I start, the task reveals its structure. Oh, this is how far it goes, and this is how it can be done, and the outline becomes clear. From that moment on, the bother significantly decreases.

Bother also involves emotions. Most tasks that need to be done are not enjoyable. They are obligations, responsibilities, and preparations. Things like getting insurance, checking, and preparing. These tasks don't provide immediate satisfaction. Instead, they offer an invisible reward of "it's a relief if nothing happens." Humans don't feel this reward well because it's not visible in front of them. That's why we procrastinate.

And to be honest, we find it bothersome because we haven't faced the consequences yet. Before an accident happens, before a problem arises, somewhere in our minds, there's a thought of 'surely not me.' This thought justifies the bother. It's an unfounded optimism that it seems okay to not do it now. But once we experience it, things change. At that point, we do it even if it's bothersome. In fact, we do it faster. Experience overcomes the bother.

So, bother isn't just a matter of laziness; it seems to be a problem with how humans approach the future. We love the comfort of the present too much and underestimate the risks of the future. As a result, it's always bothersome before starting, and once we do, it becomes trivial. Observing this pattern, it seems more like a structural issue than a personality trait.

So these days, I try to think this way. The bother before starting might not be real bother, but just an illusion that arises in front of starting. If I wait for the bother to disappear, I'll never do it, and I need to start while still feeling bothered for things to get moving. The saying that once I start, I will do it seems to be closer to the truth of life than I thought.