Why Procrastinators Procrastinate
description
Transcript of Why Procrastinators Procrastinate
-
6/13/15 7:14 PMWhy Procrastinators Procrastinate | Wait But Why
Page 1 of 11http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html
ByTimUrban
WhyProcrastinatorsProcrastinate
pro-cras-ti-na-tion|prkrastnSHn,pr-|nountheactionofdelayingorpostponingsomething:yourfirsttipistoavoidprocrastination.
Whowouldhavethoughtthatafterdecadesofstrugglewithprocrastination,thedictionary,ofallplaces,wouldholdthesolution.
Avoidprocrastination.Soelegantinitssimplicity.
Whilewerehere,letsmakesureobesepeopleavoidovereating,depressedpeopleavoidapathy,andsomeonepleasetellbeachedwhalesthattheyshouldavoidbeingoutoftheocean.
No,avoidprocrastinationisonlygoodadviceforfakeprocrastinatorsthosepeoplethatarelike,ItotallygoonFacebookafewtimeseverydayatworkImsuchaprocrastinator!Thesamepeoplethatwillsaytoarealprocrastinatorsomethinglike,Justdontprocrastinateandyoullbefine.
Thethingthatneitherthedictionarynorfakeprocrastinatorsunderstandisthatforarealprocrastinator,procrastinationisntoptionalitssomethingtheydontknowhowtonotdo.
Incollege,thesuddenunbridledpersonalfreedomwasadisasterformeIdidnothing,ever,foranyreason.TheoneexceptionwasthatIhadtohandinpapersfromtimetotime.Iwoulddothosethenightbefore,untilIrealizedIcouldjustdothemthroughthenight,andIdidthatuntilIrealizedIcouldactuallystartthemintheearlymorningonthedaytheyweredue.ThisbehaviorreachedcaricaturelevelswhenIwasunabletostartwritingmy90-pageseniorthesisuntil72hoursbeforeitwasdue,anexperiencethatendedwithmeinthecampusdoctorsofficelearningthatlackofbloodsugarwasthereasonmyhandshadgonenumbandcurledupagainstmywill.(Ididgetthethesisinno,itwasnotgood.)
Eventhisposttookmuchlongerthanitshouldhave,becauseIspentabunchofhoursdoingthingslikeseeingthispicturesittingonmydesktopfromapreviouspost,openingit,lookingatitforalongtimethinkingabouthoweasilyhecouldbeatmeinafight,thenwonderingifhecouldbeatatigerinafight,thenwonderingwhowouldwinbetweenalionandatiger,andthengooglingthatandreadingaboutitforawhile(thetigerwouldwin).Ihaveproblems.
Tounderstandwhyprocrastinatorsprocrastinatesomuch,letsstartbyunderstandinganon-
Join157,100otherhumansandhaveourweeklypostemailedto
you
Email Address
PopularPosts
RandomPost
WhyGenerationYYuppiesAreUnhappy
1,113
WhyProcrastinatorsProcrastinate
476
SEND ME NEW POSTS
211,532
LikeWBWOnFacebook
31,824FollowWBWOnTwitter
about archive minis theshed dinnertable store supportwbw Search
-
6/13/15 7:14 PMWhy Procrastinators Procrastinate | Wait But Why
Page 2 of 11http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html
procrastinatorsbrain:
Prettynormal,right?Now,letslookataprocrastinatorsbrain:
Noticeanythingdifferent?
ItseemstheRationalDecision-MakerintheprocrastinatorsbrainiscoexistingwithapettheInstantGratificationMonkey.
Thiswouldbefinecute,eveniftheRationalDecision-Makerknewthefirstthingabouthowtoownamonkey.Butunfortunately,itwasntapartofhistrainingandhesleftcompletelyhelplessasthemonkeymakesitimpossibleforhimtodohisjob.
TheFermiParadox
753
7WaysToBeInsufferableOnFacebook
613
PuttingTimeInPerspectiveUPDATED
449
HowtoNameaBaby
244
TheAIRevolution:TheRoadtoSuperintelligence
739
TamingtheMammoth:WhyYouShouldStopCaringWhatOtherPeopleThink
185
HowtoPickYourLifePartnerPart1
200
10TypesofOddFriendshipsYoureProbablyPartOf
192
EverythingYouDontKnowAboutTipping
724
YourLifeinWeeks
158
WhyYouSecretlyHateCoolBars
76
-
6/13/15 7:14 PMWhy Procrastinators Procrastinate | Wait But Why
Page 3 of 11http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html
-
6/13/15 7:14 PMWhy Procrastinators Procrastinate | Wait But Why
Page 4 of 11http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html
Thefactis,theInstantGratificationMonkeyisthelastcreaturewhoshouldbeinchargeofdecisionshethinksonlyaboutthepresent,ignoringlessonsfromthepastanddisregardingthefuturealtogether,andheconcernshimselfentirelywithmaximizingtheeaseandpleasureofthecurrentmoment.HedoesntunderstandtheRationalDecision-MakeranybetterthantheRationalDecision-Makerunderstandshimwhywouldwecontinuedoingthisjog,hethinks,whenwecouldstop,whichwouldfeelbetter.Whywouldwepracticethatinstrumentwhenitsnotfun?Whywouldweeveruseacomputerforworkwhentheinternetissittingrighttherewaitingtobeplayedwith?Hethinkshumansareinsane.
Inthemonkeyworld,hesgotitallfiguredoutifyoueatwhenyourehungry,sleepwhenyouretired,anddontdoanythingdifficult,youreaprettysuccessfulmonkey.Theproblemfortheprocrastinatoristhathehappenstoliveinthehumanworld,makingtheInstantGratificationMonkeyahighlyunqualifiednavigator.Meanwhile,theRationalDecision-Maker,whowastrainedtomakerationaldecisions,nottodealwithcompetitionoverthecontrols,doesntknowhowtoputupaneffectivefighthejustfeelsworseandworseabouthimselfthemorehefailsandthemorethesufferingprocrastinatorwhoseheadhesinberateshim.
Itsamess.Andwiththemonkeyincharge,theprocrastinatorfindshimselfspendingalotoftimeinaplacecalledtheDarkPlayground.*
TheDarkPlaygroundisaplaceeveryprocrastinatorknowswell.Itsaplacewhereleisureactivitieshappenattimeswhenleisureactivitiesarenotsupposedtobehappening.ThefunyouhaveintheDarkPlaygroundisntactuallyfunbecauseitscompletelyunearnedandtheairisfilledwithguilt,anxiety,self-hatred,anddread.SometimestheRationalDecision-Makerputshisfootdownandrefusestoletyouwastetimedoingnormalleisurethings,andsincetheInstantGratificationMonkeysureashellisntgonnaletyouwork,youfindyourselfinabizarrepurgatoryofweirdactivitieswhereeveryoneloses.**
-
6/13/15 7:14 PMWhy Procrastinators Procrastinate | Wait But Why
Page 5 of 11http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html
AndthepoorRationalDecision-Makerjustmopes,tryingtofigureouthowheletthehumanhessupposedtobeinchargeofenduphereagain.
Giventhispredicament,howdoestheprocrastinatorevermanagetoaccomplishanything?
Asitturnsout,theresonethingthatscarestheshitoutoftheInstantGratificationMonkey:
-
6/13/15 7:14 PMWhy Procrastinators Procrastinate | Wait But Why
Page 6 of 11http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html
ThePanicMonsterisdormantmostofthetime,buthesuddenlywakesupwhenadeadlinegetstoocloseorwhentheresdangerofpublicembarrassment,acareerdisaster,orsomeotherscaryconsequence.
-
6/13/15 7:14 PMWhy Procrastinators Procrastinate | Wait But Why
Page 7 of 11http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html
TheInstantGratificationMonkey,normallyunshakable,isterrifiedofthePanicMonster.Howelsecouldyouexplainthesamepersonwhocantwriteapapersintroductorysentenceoveratwo-weekspansuddenlyhavingtheabilitytostayupallnight,fightingexhaustion,andwriteeightpages?WhyelsewouldanextraordinarilylazypersonbeginarigorousworkoutroutineotherthanaPanicMonsterfreakoutaboutbecominglessattractive?
AndthesearetheluckyprocrastinatorstherearesomewhodontevenrespondtothePanicMonster,andinthemostdesperatemomentstheyenduprunningupthetreewiththemonkey,enteringastateofself-annihilatingshutdown.
Quiteacrowdweare.
Ofcourse,thisisnowaytolive.Evenfortheprocrastinatorwhodoesmanagetoeventuallygetthingsdoneandremainacompetentmemberofsociety,somethinghastochange.Herearethemainreasonswhy:
-
6/13/15 7:14 PMWhy Procrastinators Procrastinate | Wait But Why
Page 8 of 11http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html
Join157,100othersandhaveourpostsdeliveredtoyoubyemail.
Email Address
LOOKATTHISBIGBUTTONWEMADE
1)Itsunpleasant.FartoomuchoftheprocrastinatorsprecioustimeisspenttoilingintheDarkPlayground,timethatcouldhavebeenspentenjoyingsatisfying,well-earnedleisureifthingshadbeendoneonamorelogicalschedule.Andpanicisntfunforanyone.
2)Theprocrastinatorultimatelysellshimselfshort.Heendsupunderachievingandfailstoreachhispotential,whicheatsawayathimovertimeandfillshimwithregretandself-loathing.
3)TheHave-To-Dosmayhappen,butnottheWant-To-Dos.EveniftheprocrastinatorisinthetypeofcareerwherethePanicMonsterisregularlypresentandhesabletobefulfilledatwork,theotherthingsinlifethatareimportanttohimgettinginshape,cookingelaboratemeals,learningtoplaytheguitar,writingabook,reading,orevenmakingaboldcareerswitchneverhappenbecausethePanicMonsterdoesntusuallygetinvolvedwiththosethings.Undertakingslikethoseexpandourexperiences,makeourlivesricher,andbringusalotofhappinessandformostprocrastinators,theygetleftinthedust.
Sohowcanaprocrastinatorimproveandbecomehappier?SeePart2,HowToBeatProcrastination.
*AlotofyouareprobablyreadingthisarticlewhileintheDarkPlayground.
**IspenttwohoursintheDarkPlaygroundrightbeforeIdrewtheDarkPlaygrounddrawing,becauseIwasdreadinghavingtodrawthesignpost,whichIknewwouldbehardandtakeforever(whichitdid).
Whiletheyreruiningyourlife,youmightaswellcuddlewiththem:
Submit
-
6/13/15 7:14 PMWhy Procrastinators Procrastinate | Wait But Why
Page 9 of 11http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html
(Nospam,ever.Wepromise.)
Email Address
PreviousPost NextPost
Home Archive
RECOMMENDEDPOSTS
Ghostery blocked comments powered by Disqus.
Submit
211,532
TheProcrastinationMatrix
ReligionfortheNonreligious
TamingtheMammoth:WhyYouShouldStopCaringWhatOth...
WaitButWhy2015PrivacyPolicy103,186,704
Contact PartnerWithUs
-
6/13/15 7:14 PMWhy Procrastinators Procrastinate | Wait But Why
Page 10 of 11http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html
-
6/13/15 7:14 PMWhy Procrastinators Procrastinate | Wait But Why
Page 11 of 11http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html