difference between " I want to do it " and " I have to do it " I realized that one of my reasons for procrastination was because working on my thesis made me feel isolated, stressed, and uncomfortable. Working on my thesis was not fun and I didn't enjoy it. So I start thinking... Why am I doing the thesis? Why I started my PhD? It was my choice and I started my PhD because I like doing research. I find it creative and joyful! So, why I didn't want to do it anymore? Why I procrastinated in something that I have very consciously chosen? I realized that I had lost my joy. I have labeled my thesis "my big obligation/priority/big goal, which is more important than everything else". I had taken something that was a pleasure (doing research) and transformed it to a pressure. I have transformed something from "I want to do it" to "I have to do it". Re-finding the joy and pleasure of doing my thesis Ok! The interesting part! How I changed it and how I managed to see again the joy in doing my thesis? I stopped viewing the PhD as my highest priority because...well, actually it's not! What do I mean by that? When I realized that I didn't see any joy in doing my thesis I started wondering. What do I want in my life? I don't know which your goal is, but my goal in life is to be happy.