Ask HN: How to work when you’re supposed to?

I have to write these long memos for work but I just can’t seem to sit down to focus and write them. I end up procrastinating to the last minute and then push it out in some type of mad frenzy. It doesn’t feel good but I can’t figure a way through it.

How do you sit down and just turn the focus / execution on like a switch in the brain? For me I’m at the whims of my impulses, but it’s not something I can just switch on when I want. It makes my life really unsustainable.

Get a good night's sleep or take a nap and then listen to some good music.

In my experience procrastination is a sign of uncertainty. Sometimes stuff does get sorted out subconsciously over time with exposure that I stop procrastinating and can write about something. Other times you have to work at, even if you don't feel like it, reducing the uncertainty of the area you're procrastinating. The other kind is that you've (un)consciously decided that you don't like a particular task. Some kind of gamification like a chart of boxes you can X out, etc can make progress on it. Music as mentioned can help with this type.