Reasons, Psychology, Effects, and Cures for Procrastination

 Hey there! So I was watching this TED Talk by Tim Urban the other day, and it really stuck with me. It was all about procrastination and how our brains work when it comes to getting things done. And I started thinking about it more and more and some thoughts and ideas started forming in my head that I just had to get out into the world. So, I decided to write this blog about procrastination and how we can combat it.

 First off, let's talk about what procrastination is and why it happens. Basically, it's when we put off tasks or responsibilities or just generally don't get things done in a timely manner. And there can be a ton of different reasons for this. Maybe we just don't feel motivated or interested in the task. Maybe we're afraid we won't be able to do it well. Maybe we're just disorganized and don't know where to start. Or maybe we're just easily distracted by things like social media or TV.

 But it's not just about poor time management or a lack of self-discipline. There's actually a lot of psychology behind procrastination. It can be a way of coping with negative emotions or avoiding difficult tasks. It can also be a result of a lack of self-control or self-regulation. And according to Tim Urban's TED Talk, it can even be a form of self-sabotage, where we avoid taking risks or stepping outside our comfort zone by putting things off.

Some other psychological factors that contribute to to us being this way are:

• Lack of Emotional regulation: .

• Impulsivity:

• Poor Decision-making:

• Lack of Attention and focus:

 But this all seems too bookish and tbh I don't really swing that way. Although Tim's explanation sounds relatable and FUN to me,

So, according to Tim, our brains have two parts: a rational decision-maker and an "Instant Gratification Monkey." The Monkey is all about seeking pleasure and wants us to procrastinate and put things off, while the decision-maker is responsible for long-term planning and goal-setting. It's like this constant battle between the two, and in the case of us fellow procrastinators the Monkey is usually the one winning.(See?Doesn't this explation make more sense?)

Rational Decision Maker and Procrastinaton Monkey

 So, what can we do about it?Cause we have to .It can'tkeep happening right?It takes too uch toll on productivity.

 AND THE MOST IMPORTANT. I fcuking hate the monkey and don't wanna let him win.

 According to google and studies and in books there are a few strategies that can help people overcome procrastination and become more productive. These include:

• Setting small, achievable goals:

• Using a planner:

• Eliminating distractions:

• Seeking support:

• Practicing self-compassion:

 Well these are the cures you'll find in google and text books and stuff. "So why am i reading this blog Minhaz?" Now what I was stuck with was the thought(to be more precise , dread) was that the panic monster is there to help us scare away the monkey in case of the tasks that come with a deadline.Although the productivity will be lost but still we are doing it.But what about works that don't have a deadline ? 

Tim really got me on this one.So I kept thinking about it and came up with my list of cures which will help you move your ass to do the work.(By my list I mean TOXIC MOTIVATION)

 One strategy that can be effective is setting false deadlines.It's like wearing a panic monster suit in order to scare the Monkey.Well you're thinking "how are we gonna fool our mind.It knows the dealine is false and no one cares if we don't do the task." I'm not telling you to make absurd deadlines,instead use the power of MIGHTY FEAR.For example tasks like working out and meeting/calling your family don't have a deadline.So we keep procrastinating them.Now what you need to do is exxagarate the already known effect of not working out and connecting with yor family.Keep telling your mind that you're gonna get obese and that you're on the border.One hour of working out means 1 day far from fat.Now ik some people are gonna get all riled up.''THIS IS GONNA CREATE BODY DISMORPHIA" This is for people who want to workout.Guys who know Procrastination is bad and working out is the goal, so anything that pushes your ass towards your goal is worth doing.By giving ourselves a sense of urgency, we can motivate ourselves to take action and avoid the temptation to procrastinate. (for the family example I think you should think each day you are getting farther from your parents and maybe this is their last day)

Here are some guidelines to use this method :

• Choose a reasonable deadline
• Make it public
• Use it as a motivator
• Don't be too hard on yoursealf
• Use it as a tool, not a crutch

 Second technique is to always keep two goals with you.According to my experience procrastination makes you do literally ANY OTHER WORK to just keep you away from your goal. So when keeping two goals, one that is major and the other that is minor,the monkey will be okay with doing the minor task in order to keep you from doing the major task.I know this sounds absurd but trust me it works. I always end up working out or cleaning my room when I want to study. My brain searches for tasks to do in order to keep me from studying and at that moment the answer is anything else. You just need to divert your thought when you're like going to study but want to procrastinate it. Make a way for the thought of working out or anything the minor task is. The thought is to use procrastination in order to be productive. This way you’re tricking the monkey by making him feel he is in charge but in reality you are the one that has the remote control.

 So, that's the idea in a nutshell. It's a really interesting way of thinking about how our brains work and how we can overcome procrastination. I hope it helps!