A friend who has as much difficulty actually getting down to practicing the piano as I do has what she calls the "10 minute" theory. The theory attempts to explain the stubborn avoidance of practicing in the face of what often happens when you finally sit down at the piano -- or pick up the guitar, get the paints out, put the sneakers on, whatever -- which is that you suddenly go: "I had forgotten how great this was, why do I keep forgetting how much fun this is, how much I enjoy it!" You would think that the actual pleasure of getting started would be enough motivation to keep you coming back. My friend's theory is that your psyche is actually smarter than that. Your psyche knows that, somewhere round about 10 minutes into re-starting whatever it is you have been avoiding, all the demons rise up again from the depths and begin their shrieking and gibbering, and you re-discover all the reasons why you have been not practicing:-- you're no good, it is hard, it will take years, that finger still doesn't respond fast enough, what's on TV? Your psyche looks at the potential bliss of the initial thrill of finally getting started, and with its usual cold analytical fear, says, that's nothing, just wait.

Anyway, this is my friend's theory. For her. My own pet theory is that thinking up theories and explanations for why one is not at the piano is one more excellent way of avoiding just sitting down at the damn thing and getting to work.