Optimal Living Daily - Personal Development and Self-Improvement 3932: How to Do It Tomorrow Instead of Never by David Cain of Raptitude on Overcoming Avoidance
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Mar 3, 2026 David Cain, writer and creator of Raptitude, shares a concise mini bio as a longtime observer of human habits. He explains the “red carpeting” tactic and why prepping tonight makes tomorrow’s hardest tasks effortless. Short scenes cover removing ambiguity, tidying your workspace, and spotting the tiny, crucial moment that determines whether you act or avoid.
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Dad's When Question Exposed My Never Plan
- David Cain recounts his dad forcing him to name a time to do avoided tasks, which exposed his real plan to never do them.
- The tactic revealed that "later" is just another now and broke the illusion that postponement equals freedom.
Procrastination Becomes Skilled Self-Manipulation
- Cain frames procrastination as an internal struggle requiring self-manipulation rather than moral failure.
- He compares becoming a chronic procrastinator to learning the animal's movements and developing matador tricks to live with it.
Red Carpet Tomorrow's Difficult Task
- Do "red carpeting": prepare everything today so the intimidating task is as easy as possible tomorrow.
- Look up phone numbers, hours, print forms, write clear steps, and make a neat file to remove ambiguity.