Probably all of us have faced the problem of putting off some important tasks for later. A fast approaching deadline and still a lot of work to do are the duo that creates the feeling of stress we are all too familiar with. All of this is due to the invisible, but powerful force preventing us from focusing on most important things, isn't it? More seriously though, we can argue that some of these situations happen without any fault on our part. But let's be honest - most of them are because of our laziness, carelessness or recklessness.
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The act of needlessly postponing tasks is called procrastination. Psychologists claim that procrastination is caused by the way the human brain works - it values immediate profits more than delayed rewards.
Obviously, procrastination has many negative effects. For instance, a study conducted at The Ohio State University by the professor of educational psychology, Bruce Tuckman, has found out that chronic procrastinators get worse grades in college classes. The later research carried out at the Warwick Business School has confirmed the results of aforesaid study. On the other hand, however, another research has revealed that moderate procrastination helps us to tackle the problems in a more creative way.
Enough of introduction, let's watch a TED talk on this topic:
Questions
- Do you consider yourself a procrastinator, do you admit it exists in you?
- If so, are you a chronic, moderate or occasional procrastinator? Do you treat it as blessing or a course? If not, how do you convince yourself not to put something off?
- Have you ever missed an important deadline because of procrastination and borne painful consequences?
http://jamesclear.com/procrastination
https://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/procrast.htm
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-09-10/procrastination-is-bad-for-your-grades
Comments
I'm glad to hear that you are able to deal with and control procrastination.
Of course, I try to plan my time more or less, but sometimes there are moments when I postpone an important matter because of unwillingness to do it or because there are more important things. But I have noticed for myself that the closer deadline than more ideas and energy I have to do the task, so sometimes even can do work more efficiently in a short time and better than if I hadn't been postponed. But the truth to my regret, such efficiency not always happens and more often I must solve the problems arising from the fact that I haven't completed the job on time :(
I didn't consider myself a procrastinator, although, I found his thesis that "everyone is a procrastinator" reasonable. Maybe I just have a healthy relationship with my deadlines, because in fact when they exist I work very efectively. However, if there is no deadline it's getting more complicated. I'm a person who starts working just after getting back home - I'm convincing myself that earlier started work will be earlier finished. But after having succeeded I begin to do sth else and so on and in fact I nearly never have a rest. And if I do (sometimes I do it intentionally e.g I don't have a time but I go for a party) I will have such pangs of conscience that I'll work faster, more efectively and get more work done than in situation I didn't go.
Unfortunately, you are right about the "tasks" to which no deadline can be put. As Tim pointed out, these are the most difficult ones to be carried out by procrastinators.
Anyway, it looks like you are hard-working and well-organized person, great respect for you :)
About the video - I hope this guy has YouTube channel, it was amazing 12 minutes of fun :) I don't know how good procrastinator he is, but his talk was developed
thoroughly.
Like I said I'm not a procrastinator at all. I convince myself not to put anything off, because I like to do everything regular. I hate feeling when I realize that I've forgotten to do something and I have to do it immediately.
Have you ever missed an important deadline because of procrastination and borne painful consequences?
So yes, I could probably procrastinate less and start working right away on things that need to be done anyway, but sadly I really can't be bothered with it if I still have time.
There is also a bright side of procrastination. Because of unwillingness of doing something important, I clean my flat, wash dishes and make some other housework I don't usually want to do :)
I do almost everything at the last possible moment.
I hate it but I find it really hard to change it.
After a hard day at school or work I just want to relax and have some fun, so I try to delay my projects and I convince myself that the next day “I’ll totally do it” and so on till the deadline.
But, to tell the truth, I don't think it's such a big deal, I always managed to finish my tasks.
Also, I'm always trying to do my task perfectly so I'm always complain about how bad I did something. I always promise myself that "next time I will have enough time to do task and I will do it far, far away from deadline".
I don't see this as a curse, i really enjoy things I do during time that I should spend on some boring things. I think that some good procrastination is good for us ;)
As far as I remember I have never missed any deadline. They were just my works that were really poorly written.
Absolutely, I'm a procrastinator and it's boring - btw. as You can see, I have deadline at 11:55 pm and I'm still working...
Hopefully I've never missed any important deadline.