The Task You’ve Been Avoiding for 3 Weeks (Or… 3 Years)
Avoidance isn’t laziness — it’s usually fear, perfectionism, or overwhelm. AI can help you sneak up on it.
You know that task.
The one sitting on your list for weeks. Or months. Maybe even years.
You think about it all the time — in the shower, while watching TV, right before bed. But every time you try to do it?
Nope. Nothing happens.
And then comes the shame spiral: “Why can’t I just DO THIS already?”
🤝 Let’s get one thing straight:
Avoidance isn’t about being lazy.
It’s usually about protection.
Your brain is trying to protect you from failure, criticism, boredom, or complexity.
And if you’ve got ADHD? That’s multiplied by perfectionism, executive dysfunction, and good ol’ time blindness.
🛠️ What AI Can Do:
Sometimes, what helps isn’t pressure. It’s a gentle reintroduction to the task — like tricking your nervous system into realizing: “Oh… maybe this isn’t as bad as I thought.”
Here’s a simple prompt I use when I feel blocked:
“I’ve been avoiding this task: [insert it]. Can you ask me some curious, non-judgmental questions to help me figure out why I’m avoiding it?”
That alone can be incredibly powerful.
You might realize:
You’re afraid of getting it wrong
You never knew where to start
It doesn’t align with your values anymore
You need more context, clarity, or help
🧠 Want to go a step further?
“Can you help me rewrite this task so it sounds kind, doable, and not shame-inducing?”
Because let’s be honest — “file overdue taxes” feels a lot heavier than “open folder and see what’s inside.”
AI can soften the language. And sometimes that’s all it takes to sneak past your inner resistance.
💬 Personal Example:
I had “email that person back” on my list for 3 weeks. Just one email.
I finally asked AI to help me break it down. It said:
Search inbox
Read the last message
Paste it here and we’ll brainstorm a reply together
I did all 3 steps in 5 minutes.
It had lived in my head for three weeks.
💬 What task are you avoiding right now? Try one of those prompts and let me know what came up — no judgment.
– Jody