Grzegorz
Nasternak
Recently I have watched interesting presentation of procrastination
phenomena. It is simple, but present procrastination issues in illustrative
way.
Tim Urban - the speaker on TED presentation have own
idea, what is going on with procrastination.
So let’s imagine what happens in your head if you have
to prepare new writing, complete task,etc.
There are
two character:
1) Rational Decision-Maker
2) Instant Gratification Monkey
inside your procrastinator head.
Decision-Maker is rational, making the rational
decision to do something productive.
Monkey has completely another way of behaving. Her goal
is to achieve joy, make something coming with immediate gratification.
So Rational Decision-Maker wants to prepare
presentation to English conservatorium, but in the same time Instant
Gratification Monkey find at Internet page with new type of bikes – gravel and
description of new model GT Bicycles.
It is important to prepare text, because you will
improve your English and obtain grade for your work.
But who’s the boss
- Instant Gratification Monkey. I
have to admit article concerning gravel bikes seems more interesting.
And what happens after I have read article. Still
there is presentation to be prepared. There is less time to do it. And
motivation is on the same level or even lower. Next activity and next activity
and time of day has finished.
Instant Gratification Monkey is happy. She is animal
and do not need to think about future, past. These are abstracts. Monkey leave
here and now. Seeking for happiness, food and joy.
Off course we are animals too, but we have sense of
abstracts – we know what is future, we can make plans, achieve much more as
humans.
And it is more related to Rational Decision-Maker.
He has plans, can set up big goals. But in case you
want achieve something in long-terms you should do tasks which is not really
joy. Instead of having fun right now, you should do something useful but maybe
less pleasant. You must do that, but behind your head you have your objectives
and goals.
If deadline is still in future and you still have some
time, Instant Gratification Monkey is behind the wheel and she order what to do
next.
But deadline is coming and this is time for next
character: the Panic Monster.
Normally is dormant most of time, but deadline wakes
him up.
Monster is the only thing that scary Instant
Gratification Monkey and she loses her self-confidence. She started arguing
about with Decision-Maker. But still she is at steer.
But when finally, deadline comes, Panic Monster losing
mind. Monkey is hiding and Decision-Maker take a steer.
This is moment when you really start work, complete
task.
These three characters are nice explanation what
happens when we are try to understand procrastination. Based on that you can
figured out how to deal with it.
Eg. You can set more mid-deadlines to force you to
work on part of work to be done.
Sources
used:
