I'm going to start working out and eating right, I just need to read all these websites on training & nutrition first.

I'm going to work on my coding project, I just need to close down all these tabs first.

I'm going to call my dad more, I just need less stress in my life first.

I'm going to approach more women, I just need to read more about inner game first.

I'm going to study for my exam, I just need to reorganize my desk first.

By putting Y before X, we are stalling and not getting momentum. There are some cases where preparatory action is actually warranted, but most situations aren't like that.

What would happen if we turned these around?

I'm going to start working out and eating right, and I will do research as I get more momentum.

I'm going to work on my coding project now, and then I can read Reddit in the glow of victory.

I'm going to call my dad right now, and that will make it more likely that I call him again tomorrow regardless of my stress level.

I'm going to say something to a girl, and that will give me reference experiences that I can hook up to inner game theory later.

I'm going to study for my exam right now, my desk won't bother me nearly as much after I get through some pages.

We get momentum, AND whatever was bothering us will seem easier. All it takes is a few minutes of mild pain as we force our brain to focus.

Oh btw, here's a crazy thought: what if all those evasive "I have to do this first" actions are actually a form of cognitive pica? What if your mind is telling you to do Y but what it really wants is for you to do X. Think about it...