I was like you--tried to be the last guy on the plane--until I started to fly very frequently (every other week). I started getting upgraded to first, which means really boarding before everyone and not having to wait in line/in the tunnel to get to my (now comfortable) seat.

Boarding at the very beginning makes a huge difference.

It's a 30 minute chunk of time in which you get to relax. Once you're in your seat there really is nothing else to do. You can work, you can watch a movie, you can think, read a book.

No latent anxiety wondering when I should get up, no "I can't really focus on this book because I might have to get up any minute," etc.

For a relatively short flight (2 hours) it's a pretty meaningful % of time that becomes a lot more relaxing.