Ask HN: Is it 'normal' to struggle so hard with work?

I cannot speak for anyone else, but what you described is very similar to what I went through for most of my life.

It felt like there would be periods where I would be so adverse to any kind of work, and look for any possible reason to push it off or do nothing, and spend the rest of the day on Reddit or HN.

Eventually I started seeing a psychiatrist, and he diagnosed me as manic depressive, with possibly a case of ADD.

He prescribed me a combination of Lamictal and Wellbutrin (the latter of which is also prescribed occasionally for ADD), and I can honestly say that it has changed my life.

I used to think that I was just lazy, and maybe I was, but I am certainly not anymore. My job has been a lot easier to do, I don't look for excuses to spend all day on Reddit, and my life has simply been better.

I second this. Struggled with exact same thing. The idea of having ADHD had never occurred to me until I found myself rapidly approaching 30, struggling to complete college coursework, my 3rd go at higher education. I wanted so badly to succeed but just couldn't cross the threshold and do what needed to be done. It wasn't until I googled something like 'Why can't I get work done?' that I came to the realization I may have ADHD (which was later confirmed with a proper diagnosis).

Medication was not a silver-bullet, but medication + the kinds of routines you've developed (habit tracking etc) was. Also check out r/adhd on reddit. Super helpful people in that sub, and tons of anecdotes from people struggling with the same issues.

You have to force yourself to take the first step, getting started. Once you get the ball rolling you have inertia, it's not so hard to keep going.

>Be responsible to someone besides yourself.

how silly; we're responsible for ourselves whether we choose to accept that responsibility or not.

putting your executive functions in the hands of someone else like a boss is a common move, but frankly it's a near total resignation of autonomy and personal responsibility that is unacceptable for some people.

Pathological distractivity (like ADHD) is not the same as long-term erosion of motivation and sense of purpose by not being a good fit for either your workplace, or type of job. You would probably benefit from a professional psychotherapist to determine which specifically is plaguing you.