‘Ugh Fields’ are a really useful concept. The existing explanation is written for a niche audience, so I’ll have a go at explaining them myself:

‘Ugh Fields’, or why you can’t even bear to think about that task

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2024-03-30 14:30:06

‘Ugh Fields’ are a really useful concept. The existing explanation is written for a niche audience, so I’ll have a go at explaining them myself:

Have you ever had a long-overdue task to do, a task which isn’t so bad in itself, but which you can barely bring yourself to think about without feeling awful?

The first day the task is on your to-do list, you don’t end up starting, because the short-term reward isn’t large enough to overcome the psychological cost of doing so.

Maybe you feel low-energy. Maybe you have more urgent priorities. Maybe you’re insecure about whether you can do a good job. Maybe the task involves a bit of social awkwardness. Whatever the reason — you delay.

Or now that it’s late, you feel you have to do an especially great job to make up for it. Or whenever you do send it out, the late delivery is going to embarrass you regardless. Or perhaps you’re simply ashamed and annoyed with yourself that you haven’t finished it already.

Either way, as time goes on, the task becomes even less appealing to work on. Even less appealing than it was the first day, when it was already bad enough that you didn’t do it!