My brain latches onto the few examples where it did pay off, though. "Imagine if I would've started earlier - all that work I did would've been completely waste

My brain latches onto the few examples where it did pay off, though. "Imagine if I would've started earlier - all that work I did would've been completely wasted." In reality, that work probably wouldn't have been completely wasted, and even then, I certainly wouldn't be any further behind on the project if I'd done it instead of slacking off.