It's one of those things that's easier said than done, like "just letting go" (the word 'just' in that phrase is brutal). But I think it can be practiced. Imagine in an ideal sense the love a parent has for their child. It's an unconditional love, one that comes without strings attached or any expectation of greatness beyond the miracle of that child's very existence. Tough love, sometimes, but not necessarily contingent. The trick is to find a way to give that to yourself. It takes time.

Procrastination, like other problems of self-improvement, is multilayered. Some of my friends who constantly agonize over their productivity levels confound me, because often from my vantage point they seem perfectly well adjusted, if not for the constant feeling like they should be doing more. Other times procrastination is a response to stress or trauma that needs to be addressed on its own. Some kinds of distraction are arguably more of a reflection of changes in our culture than individual pathologies. Sometimes you just need an egg timer. Sometimes human beings are just garden-variety imperfect.

At the risk of venturing in cheesy territory, I'd recommend checking out Brene Brown's TED talks on vulnerability and shame, if you're not already familiar with them.

http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_listening_to_shame?lang...