Why Procrastinators Procrastinate | Wait But Why

about

archive

minis

theshed

6/13/15 7:14 PM

dinnertable

store

supportwbw

WhyProcrastinatorsProcrastinate
ByTimUrban

pro-cras-ti-na-tion|prkrastnSHn,pr-|
noun
theactionofdelayingorpostponingsomething:yourfirsttipistoavoidprocrastination.
Whowouldhavethoughtthatafterdecadesofstrugglewithprocrastination,thedictionary,ofall
places,wouldholdthesolution.

Search

Join157,100otherhumansand
haveourweeklypostemailedto
you

Email Address
SEND ME NEW POSTS

LikeWBWOnFacebook

FollowWBWOnTwitter

211,532

31,824

RandomPost

Avoidprocrastination.Soelegantinitssimplicity.
Whilewerehere,letsmakesureobesepeopleavoidovereating,depressedpeopleavoidapathy,and
someonepleasetellbeachedwhalesthattheyshouldavoidbeingoutoftheocean.
No,avoidprocrastinationisonlygoodadviceforfakeprocrastinatorsthosepeoplethatarelike,I
totallygoonFacebookafewtimeseverydayatworkImsuchaprocrastinator!Thesamepeople
thatwillsaytoarealprocrastinatorsomethinglike,Justdontprocrastinateandyoullbefine.
Thethingthatneitherthedictionarynorfakeprocrastinatorsunderstandisthatforareal
procrastinator,procrastinationisntoptionalitssomethingtheydontknowhowtonotdo.
Incollege,thesuddenunbridledpersonalfreedomwasadisasterformeIdidnothing,ever,forany
reason.TheoneexceptionwasthatIhadtohandinpapersfromtimetotime.Iwoulddothosethe
nightbefore,untilIrealizedIcouldjustdothemthroughthenight,andIdidthatuntilIrealizedIcould
actuallystartthemintheearlymorningonthedaytheyweredue.Thisbehaviorreachedcaricature
levelswhenIwasunabletostartwritingmy90-pageseniorthesisuntil72hoursbeforeitwasdue,an
experiencethatendedwithmeinthecampusdoctorsofficelearningthatlackofbloodsugarwasthe
reasonmyhandshadgonenumbandcurledupagainstmywill.(Ididgetthethesisinno,itwasnot
good.)
Eventhisposttookmuchlongerthanitshouldhave,becauseIspentabunchofhoursdoingthings
likeseeingthispicturesittingonmydesktopfromapreviouspost,openingit,lookingatitforalong
timethinkingabouthoweasilyhecouldbeatmeinafight,thenwonderingifhecouldbeatatigerina
fight,thenwonderingwhowouldwinbetweenalionandatiger,andthengooglingthatandreading
aboutitforawhile(thetigerwouldwin).Ihaveproblems.
Tounderstandwhyprocrastinatorsprocrastinatesomuch,letsstartbyunderstandinganon-

http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html

PopularPosts
WhyGenerationY
YuppiesAreUnhappy

1,113

WhyProcrastinators
Procrastinate

476

Page 1 of 11

Why Procrastinators Procrastinate | Wait But Why

procrastinatorsbrain:

6/13/15 7:14 PM

TheFermiParadox

753

7WaysToBeInsufferable
OnFacebook

613

PuttingTimeIn
PerspectiveUPDATED

449

HowtoNameaBaby

244

TheAIRevolution:The
RoadtoSuperintelligence

739

Prettynormal,right?Now,letslookataprocrastinatorsbrain:
TamingtheMammoth:WhyYou
ShouldStopCaringWhatOther
PeopleThink

185

HowtoPickYourLife
PartnerPart1

200

10TypesofOdd
FriendshipsYoure
ProbablyPartOf

192

EverythingYouDont
KnowAboutTipping

724

Noticeanythingdifferent?
ItseemstheRationalDecision-MakerintheprocrastinatorsbrainiscoexistingwithapettheInstant
GratificationMonkey.
Thiswouldbefinecute,eveniftheRationalDecision-Makerknewthefirstthingabouthowtoown
amonkey.Butunfortunately,itwasntapartofhistrainingandhesleftcompletelyhelplessasthe
monkeymakesitimpossibleforhimtodohisjob.

http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html

YourLifeinWeeks

158

WhyYouSecretlyHate
CoolBars

76

Page 2 of 11

Why Procrastinators Procrastinate | Wait But Why

http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html

6/13/15 7:14 PM

Page 3 of 11

Why Procrastinators Procrastinate | Wait But Why

6/13/15 7:14 PM

Thefactis,theInstantGratificationMonkeyisthelastcreaturewhoshouldbeinchargeofdecisions
hethinksonlyaboutthepresent,ignoringlessonsfromthepastanddisregardingthefuture
altogether,andheconcernshimselfentirelywithmaximizingtheeaseandpleasureofthecurrent
moment.HedoesntunderstandtheRationalDecision-MakeranybetterthantheRationalDecisionMakerunderstandshimwhywouldwecontinuedoingthisjog,hethinks,whenwecouldstop,which
wouldfeelbetter.Whywouldwepracticethatinstrumentwhenitsnotfun?Whywouldweeverusea
computerforworkwhentheinternetissittingrighttherewaitingtobeplayedwith?Hethinks
humansareinsane.
Inthemonkeyworld,hesgotitallfiguredoutifyoueatwhenyourehungry,sleepwhenyoure
tired,anddontdoanythingdifficult,youreaprettysuccessfulmonkey.Theproblemforthe
procrastinatoristhathehappenstoliveinthehumanworld,makingtheInstantGratificationMonkey
ahighlyunqualifiednavigator.Meanwhile,theRationalDecision-Maker,whowastrainedtomake
rationaldecisions,nottodealwithcompetitionoverthecontrols,doesntknowhowtoputupan
effectivefighthejustfeelsworseandworseabouthimselfthemorehefailsandthemorethe
sufferingprocrastinatorwhoseheadhesinberateshim.
Itsamess.Andwiththemonkeyincharge,theprocrastinatorfindshimselfspendingalotoftimeina
placecalledtheDarkPlayground.*
TheDarkPlaygroundisaplaceeveryprocrastinatorknowswell.Itsaplacewhereleisureactivities
happenattimeswhenleisureactivitiesarenotsupposedtobehappening.Thefunyouhaveinthe
DarkPlaygroundisntactuallyfunbecauseitscompletelyunearnedandtheairisfilledwithguilt,
anxiety,self-hatred,anddread.SometimestheRationalDecision-Makerputshisfootdownand
refusestoletyouwastetimedoingnormalleisurethings,andsincetheInstantGratificationMonkey
sureashellisntgonnaletyouwork,youfindyourselfinabizarrepurgatoryofweirdactivitieswhere
everyoneloses.**

http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html

Page 4 of 11

Why Procrastinators Procrastinate | Wait But Why

6/13/15 7:14 PM

AndthepoorRationalDecision-Makerjustmopes,tryingtofigureouthowheletthehumanhes
supposedtobeinchargeofenduphereagain.

Giventhispredicament,howdoestheprocrastinatorevermanagetoaccomplishanything?
Asitturnsout,theresonethingthatscarestheshitoutoftheInstantGratificationMonkey:

http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html

Page 5 of 11

Why Procrastinators Procrastinate | Wait But Why

6/13/15 7:14 PM

ThePanicMonsterisdormantmostofthetime,buthesuddenlywakesupwhenadeadlinegetstoo
closeorwhentheresdangerofpublicembarrassment,acareerdisaster,orsomeotherscary
consequence.

http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html

Page 6 of 11

Why Procrastinators Procrastinate | Wait But Why

6/13/15 7:14 PM

TheInstantGratificationMonkey,normallyunshakable,isterrifiedofthePanicMonster.Howelse
couldyouexplainthesamepersonwhocantwriteapapersintroductorysentenceoveratwo-week
spansuddenlyhavingtheabilitytostayupallnight,fightingexhaustion,andwriteeightpages?Why
elsewouldanextraordinarilylazypersonbeginarigorousworkoutroutineotherthanaPanic
Monsterfreakoutaboutbecominglessattractive?
AndthesearetheluckyprocrastinatorstherearesomewhodontevenrespondtothePanic
Monster,andinthemostdesperatemomentstheyenduprunningupthetreewiththemonkey,
enteringastateofself-annihilatingshutdown.
Quiteacrowdweare.
Ofcourse,thisisnowaytolive.Evenfortheprocrastinatorwhodoesmanagetoeventuallygetthings
doneandremainacompetentmemberofsociety,somethinghastochange.Herearethemain
reasonswhy:

http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html

Page 7 of 11

Why Procrastinators Procrastinate | Wait But Why

6/13/15 7:14 PM

1)Itsunpleasant.FartoomuchoftheprocrastinatorsprecioustimeisspenttoilingintheDark
Playground,timethatcouldhavebeenspentenjoyingsatisfying,well-earnedleisureifthingshadbeen
doneonamorelogicalschedule.Andpanicisntfunforanyone.
2)Theprocrastinatorultimatelysellshimselfshort.Heendsupunderachievingandfailstoreach
hispotential,whicheatsawayathimovertimeandfillshimwithregretandself-loathing.
3)TheHave-To-Dosmayhappen,butnottheWant-To-Dos.Eveniftheprocrastinatorisinthetype
ofcareerwherethePanicMonsterisregularlypresentandhesabletobefulfilledatwork,theother
thingsinlifethatareimportanttohimgettinginshape,cookingelaboratemeals,learningtoplaythe
guitar,writingabook,reading,orevenmakingaboldcareerswitchneverhappenbecausethePanic
Monsterdoesntusuallygetinvolvedwiththosethings.Undertakingslikethoseexpandour
experiences,makeourlivesricher,andbringusalotofhappinessandformostprocrastinators,they
getleftinthedust.
Sohowcanaprocrastinatorimproveandbecomehappier?SeePart2,HowToBeatProcrastination.

*AlotofyouareprobablyreadingthisarticlewhileintheDarkPlayground.
**IspenttwohoursintheDarkPlaygroundrightbeforeIdrewtheDarkPlaygrounddrawing,
becauseIwasdreadinghavingtodrawthesignpost,whichIknewwouldbehardandtakeforever
(whichitdid).
Whiletheyreruiningyourlife,youmightaswellcuddlewiththem:

Join157,100othersandhaveourposts
deliveredtoyoubyemail.

Email Address

LOOKATTHISBIGBUTTONWEMADE

Submit

http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html

Page 8 of 11

Why Procrastinators Procrastinate | Wait But Why

Email Address

6/13/15 7:14 PM

Submit

(Nospam,ever.Wepromise.)

211,532

PreviousPost

NextPost

RECOMMENDEDPOSTS

TheProcrastination
Matrix

Religionforthe
Nonreligious

TamingtheMammoth:
WhyYouShouldStop
CaringWhatOth...

Ghostery blocked comments powered by Disqus.

Home

103,186,704

Archive

Contact

http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html

WaitButWhy2015
PrivacyPolicy

PartnerWithUs

Page 9 of 11

Why Procrastinators Procrastinate | Wait But Why

http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html

6/13/15 7:14 PM

Page 10 of 11

Why Procrastinators Procrastinate | Wait But Why

http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html

6/13/15 7:14 PM

Page 11 of 11