WHY YOU’D RATHER RESEARCH THAN WRITE

The hidden logic behind productive procrastination, and three cognitive rewrites that turn notes into drafts

Like writing, research is solid work. But for some creatives, it can become productive procrastination. An activity that gives the feeling of progress while quietly postponing the progress that’s needed.

The reason is not laziness or a lack of willpower. Collecting information offers a fast reward. Drafting offers a slow reward. Your nervous system can tell the difference. Below, I break down what’s actually happening when you find yourself endlessly researching, highlighting, saving, and outlining instead of actually writing. I’ll also give you 3 tactics to turn notes into output.