What really happens in a procrastinator's head

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

In his TED talk, blogger Tim Urban discusses why we can't get away from YouTube or Wikipedia when an urgent project is on fire.

We procrastinate because it feels good

Imagine a student with a week left before graduation. He sits down at his laptop, opens a blank page and … hangs on YouTube for a couple of hours. At the same time, he first watches videos with Feynman's informative lectures, and ends with selections of the funniest files. Every day there is something more important than a diploma: general cleaning of the house, chatting in chats, the release of a new video game.

And here it is, the moment of truth - there are a couple of days left before the graduation. The student wakes up incredible hard work, and he writes a diploma in two sleepless nights. Yes, the diploma is not the best. But ready.

Familiar situation? This is the classic behavior of a person who constantly procrastinates. Instead of a diploma, you can postpone until the last moment the submission of a report at work or a speech for a speech at a conference. In general, whatever. What is going on in your head at this moment?

Most psychologists view procrastination as evasion, a defense mechanism that is triggered by unpleasant actions. A person gives up in order to feel good.

The problem is that unpleasant, difficult cases usually produce the most significant results in the long run.

Our system of doing things is far from ideal

Tim Urban, in his TED talk, described the procrastinator's pattern of behavior with three characters that coexist in his head.

The rationalist makes decisions

Thanks to him, we can imagine the future, make long-term plans. He helps us to do difficult things that will be beneficial in the long term. But when he makes a rational decision to do something productive, a second character appears.

The monkey demands pleasure

The Monkey interferes with the Rationalist. She is the personification of our animal nature. The monkey lives only in the present. She has no memories of the past, no plans for the future. She only cares about two things: making it easy and fun. When we procrastinate, we go along with her, get distracted by all sorts of nonsense and do not do what is important.

In the animal world, this works great. When you are a dog, and all your life you have not done anything except light and funny things, this is great luck. And for the Monkey, people are the same animals.

But how can a procrastinator force himself to do important but difficult things to get things done?

Panic Monster scares, but helps you focus

The Panic Monster helps with this. He wakes up every time the deadline looms too close or the fear of public disgrace wakes up. In general, every time something terribly important should happen. The monkey succumbs to panic, and the Rationalist, who no longer interferes with, can get to work. At this time, we take on a task that we have been postponing for a long time.

This is the procrastination system. It is, of course, far from ideal, but it works.

Bad news: we procrastinate even when there are no deadlines

Procrastination makes you feel terrible. This is partly due to the fact that entertainment does not bring joy and pleasure when you realize that there is no time for them. Periodically, you feel guilty, fear, anxiety, self-loathing. On the other hand, the problem is always resolved - you manage to do what is needed and deliver the work on time.

But the main problem appears when there are no deadlines.

For example, you want to build a career, actively participate in life - do art or entrepreneurship. Or meeting family more often, exercising and paying attention to your health, working on relationships, or ending a relationship that is not enjoyable. In these situations, procrastination can be a source of unhappiness and regret.

This means that there are two types of procrastination:

1. Short-term procrastination. It lasts for a certain time and ends with the deadline.
2. Long-term procrastination. Not limited by a deadline, it can drag on indefinitely.

The second type of procrastination is the most dangerous. It flows quietly and imperceptibly, people talk about it much less often. However, most of the important things in our life have no deadline.

Disappointment appears not because a person could not fulfill his dream, but because he did not even begin to strive for it.

Tim Urban

It turns out that we are all prone to procrastination to some extent. And even if we know how to plan work on projects with a deadline, most likely we are procrastinating in some other important area of our life. It can be career, relationships, health.

To stop procrastinating, learn to value time

How to beat procrastination? In such a situation, there is nothing more stupid than the advice “Stop doing useless things and get to work”.

If we advise this, let's also advise obese people just not to overeat, people in depression simply not to be sad, and to whales washed ashore, just keep within the ocean. Avid procrastinators simply cannot control their distractions.

In the event that you procrastinate on projects with a deadline, try to accept yourself as you are. Yes, you do everything at the last moment. But once you have time, then everything is in order.

Long-term procrastination is more difficult. You do not panic and think that you will be in time for everything, but you constantly put off your dream for later. Perhaps the life calendar that Tim Urban came up with will help you figure out your priorities.

Each square represents one week of 90 years of life. This is what the time allotted to you looks like.

Print and paint over the time already lived. And then hang such a calendar in the kitchen or put it on your desktop and paint over every next week that has passed. This simple exercise will teach you the value of time.

Our life also has a deadline, you just don't know for sure when it will come. Think carefully about what you want to spend the rest of your time on. And go for it.

For those wishing to learn more about the procrastination system, here is Tim Urban's TED talk with Russian subtitles.