Here's my problem — I'm a sprinter. I'm either on or off. Stopped or running full speed ahead. The good news is that I'm making progress. One of the conference papers I wanted to write is nearly done — good thing, because it's due Wednesday.
The other paper, I've had researched for months, and now it's time to put words on paper. I'm ready. It's in my head, and it wants out. It's also due Wednesday, so I'm running out of time.
And that's the push I need; an immutable deadline. Sprint to the finish line ... or fail. Most times I make it, but sometimes I don't. When I was in Grad School (like that was so long ago ;), once a semester, I'd rush to the finish and come in a little late to class. Everyone assumed that I'd gotten stuck at work, but the reality was that I was still typing when class started. So, we'll have to wait until Wednesday night to see how the story ends. I don't want to fail. But sometimes, I just do it to myself.