Every year, the same cycle repeats itself. I get closer to the tax return deadline, and suddenly, the pressure mounts—I have to get it done.

Oddly enough, the stress of thinking about my taxes is worse than actually doing them. I feel a physical tension in my stomach, so I find ways to distract myself with more interesting tasks. I keep putting it off until there’s no choice left, leading to a last-minute rush filled with stress and urgency.

It reminds me of kids playing outside, enjoying themselves, only to be called in to do their homework—forced to abandon something fun for something they don’t want to do.

I’d much rather handle my taxes the moment I receive all the necessary documents, avoiding the stress altogether. But instead, I spend weeks dreading it before finally getting it done under pressure.

The Power of Framing

Do I see my tax return as an unpleasant chore, similar to school homework? If so, maybe it’s not the task itself that’s the issue, but how I frame it in my mind.

Psychologists have done experiments with children to explore this concept. They give one group a puzzle to play with freely for 15 minutes, while another group is told they’ll be paid to complete the puzzle. Later, when given the choice, the unpaid group is more likely to continue playing with the puzzle. The paid group, however, sees it as work—something they only did because of an external incentive.

The Effect of Necessity

The moment something feels like an obligation—whether through demands, threats, or even rewards—it often becomes unpleasant. If doing a tax return were framed as part of an engaging learning experience, I might not mind it. If it were a form I had to fill out to claim a million dollars, I’d finish it immediately.

The way I phrase the task in my mind makes a difference. When I say things like “I have to do my taxes” or “I should get it done,” it creates resistance. Meanwhile, I can think of plenty of other things I’d rather be doing.

Changing the Strategy

Right now, my internal process looks something like this:

1. I see the task.
2. I tell myself I should do it.
3. I feel bad about it.

This pattern creates resentment because it feels like an interruption to my flow—an external demand pulling me away from what I actually want to be doing.

Using NLP and Anchoring

A more effective approach involves anchoring a positive feeling to the task. Instead of imagining the stress of doing it, I can:

1. Picture the task as already completed.
2. Mentally go through the process quickly and efficiently.
3. Focus on the relief and satisfaction of having it done.
4. Link each small step to that sense of accomplishment.

Reframing the Task

Instead of framing taxes as a burden, I could change my internal dialogue to something more positive:

1. Visualizing it as already finished.
2. Telling myself, “I’d love to get this done early.”
3. Feeling how great it will be to have it completed with no stress.

By shifting my mindset, I can break the cycle of procrastination and actually make tax season a lot easier to handle.