Temporary productivity paralysis is a normal part of the project process.
There is a moment – usually about 80-90% of the way through the process, for me – when I feel completely incapable of finishing a project.
It’s never easier to get distracted from my project than in that moment – I can literally be drawn to any other responsibility. I think it’s fear or anxiety about the project that pushes me to put the project in my blind spot.
It’s almost unavoidable, but it’s knowable. And in knowing it, I can short circuit the distraction and re-engage with the task at hand. I see myself disengaging, remind myself why, make a cup of tea, and get back to work.