Method 1 is preferred for me, because it's actually going out there and "doing it". It makes me focused.
Method 2 is where I spiral. Because it's ambiguous, because it's safe, instead of actually making art, I continue just improving the art station. I stall. I go into a kind of "gathering" mindset where I just collect and collect and collect (also known as GAS, gear acquisition syndrome) and I never actually end up making anything.
But I think there is some truth in what you're saying. I think what's missing for me is that feeling of "comfort". Instead, I get a feeling of anxiety when I approach art, but I'm not exactly sure why.
It's actually for this reason why I couldn't continue drawing as a hobby. It would just make me feel incredibly anxious, like I had to force myself to do it. Any literature or advice on this would be fantastic.