Instead of desiring and expecting structure and going limp once the structure fails, try instead to drop the crutches and strengthen the "muscle" that keeps you always dynamically evaluating what is best for you to be doing at this very moment. There's a desire to have a simple world where you just color in between the lines and everything works out while you go on autopilot, but the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry - the world does not owe you your schedule. Just stay awake and always be re-evaluating, don't get caught in sunk-cost fallacy, and don't hold onto anything too tightly.
No. Don't drop crutches before you can walk with crutches. Then try not to use them less. Some people will always need crutches, that's okay. If you can fly you run, if you can't run you walk, if you can't walk you crawl, if you can't crawl you roll around. Keep moving :).
How do you even start doing this? I have poor self control and usually start projects/tasks right as the deadline approaches. I wish I was that productive all the time...
Mindfulness meditation is a big help here. It works for me but there are other methods, e.g. memento mori, psychedelics, journaling, minimalism, travel, nootropics, exercise until exhaustion, new social groups, always pushing a bit out of your comfort zone. It's a bit chicken and egg, but letting that seed be planted in your head and keep at it for a while and don't get caught up in dogma or any particular method.
