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ByTimUrban
HowtoBeatProcrastination
ThisisPart2.YouwontgetPart2ifyouhaventreadPart1yet.HeresPart1.
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pro-cras-ti-na-tion|prkrastnSHn,pr-|nountheactionofruiningyourownlifefornoapparentreason
LetmestartbysayingthatIvehadjustaboutenoughoftheironyofbattlingthroughcripplingprocrastinationwhiletryingtowritepostsonprocrastinationandhowtobeatit.Ivespentthelasttwoweeksbeingthisguy,whoshootshimselfinthefootwhiletalkingaboutgunsafety,andIlookforwardtogettingbacktoirony-freeprocrastinationfollowingthispost.
Acouplenotesbeforewebegin:
Imnotaprofessionalatanyofthis,justalifelongprocrastinatorwhothinksaboutthistopicallthetime.Imstillinatotalbattlewithmyownhabits,butIhavemadesomeprogressinthelastfewyears,andImdrawingmythoughtsfromwhatsworkedforme.
Thispostwaspostedlate,notonlybecauseittookme2,000yearstodo,butalsobecauseIdecidedthatMondaynightwasanurgenttimetoopenGoogleEarth,hoverafewhundredfeetabovethesoutherntipofIndia,andscrollallthewayupIndiatothetopofthecountry,togetabetterfeelforIndia.Ihaveproblems.
Allright,solastweekwedoveintotheeverydayinnerstruggleoftheprocrastinatortoexaminetheunderlyingpsychologygoingon.Butthisweek,whenwereactuallytryingtodosomethingaboutit,weneedtodigevendeeper.Letsbeginbytryingtounwraptheprocrastinatorspsychologyandseewhatsreallyatthecoreofthings:
WeknowabouttheInstantGratificationMonkey(thepartofyourbrainthatmakesyouprocrastinate)andhisdominionovertheRationalDecisionMaker,butwhatsreallyhappeningthere?
Theprocrastinatorisinthebadhabit,borderingonaddiction,oflettingthemonkeywin.Hecontinuestohavetheintentiontocontrolthemonkey,butheputsforthahaplesseffort,usingthesameproven-not-to-workmethodshesusedforyears,anddeepdown,heknowsthemonkeywillwin.Hevowstochange,butthepatternsjuststaythesame.Sowhywouldanotherwisecapablepersonputforthsuchalameandfutileeffortagainandagain?
Theansweristhathehasincrediblylowconfidencewhenitcomestothispartofhislife,allowinghimselftobecomeenslavedbyaself-defeating,self-fulfillingprophecy.Letscallthisself-fulfillingprophecyhisStoryline.TheprocrastinatorsStorylinegoessomethinglikethis:
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FortheHave-To-Dosinmylife,Illendupwaitinguntilthelastminute,panicking,andtheneitherdoinglessthanmybestworkorshuttingdownandnotdoinganythingatall.FortheWant-To-Dosinmylife,letsbehonestIlleitherstartoneandquitormorelikely,Ijustwontevergetaroundtoit.
Theprocrastinatorsproblemsrundeep,andittakessomethingmorethanbeingmoreself-disciplinedorchanginghisbadhabitsforhimtochangehiswaystherootoftheproblemisembeddedinhisStoryline,andhisStorylineiswhatmustchange.
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BeforewetalkabouthowStorylineschange,letsexamine,concretely,whattheprocrastinatorevenwantstochangeinto.Whatdotherighthabitsevenlooklike,andwhereexactlywilltheprocrastinatorrunintotrouble?
Therearetwocomponentsofbeingabletoachievethingsinahealthyandeffectivemannerplanninganddoing.Letsstartwiththeeasyone:
Planning
Procrastinatorsloveplanning,quitesimplybecauseplanningdoesnotinvolvedoing,anddoingistheprocrastinatorsKryptonite.
Butwhenprocrastinatorsplan,theyliketodoitinavaguewaythatdoesntconsiderdetailsorrealitytooclosely,andtheirplanningleavesthemperfectlysetuptonotactuallyaccomplishanything.Aprocrastinatorsplanningsessionleaveshimwithadoersnightmare:
Abiglistoficky,dauntingtasksandundertakings.
AbiglistofvagueanddauntingthingsmakestheInstantGratificationMonkeylaugh.Whenyoumakealistlikethat,themonkeysays,Ohperfect,thisiseasy.Evenifyourgullibleconsciousmindbelievesitintendstoaccomplishtheitemsonthatlistinanefficientmanner,themonkeyknowsthatinyoursubconscious,youhavenointentionofdoingso.
Effectiveplanning,ontheotherhand,setsyouupforsuccess.Itspurposeistodotheexactoppositeof
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everythinginthatsentence:
Effectiveplanningtakesabiglistandselectsawinner:
Abiglistisperhapsanearlyphaseofplanning,butplanningmustendwithrigorousprioritizingandoneitemthatemergesasthewinnertheitemyouregoingtomakeyourfirstpriority.Andtheitemthatwinsshouldbetheonethatmeansthemosttoyoutheitemthatsmostimportantforyourhappiness.Ifurgentitemsareinvolved,thosewillhavetocomefirstandshouldbeknockedoutasquicklyaspossibleinordertomakewayfortheimportantitems(procrastinatorslovetouseunimportantbuturgentitemsasanexcusetoforeverputofftheimportantones).
Effectiveplanningmakesanickyitemun-icky:
Weallknowwhatanickyitemis.Anickyitemisvagueandmurky,andyourenotreallysurewhereyoudstart,howyoudgoaboutdoingit,orwhereyoudgetanswerstoyourquestionsaboutit.
Soletssayyourdreamistomakeyourownapp,andyouknowthatifyoubuildasuccessfulappyoucouldquityourjobandbecomeafull-timedeveloper.Youalsothinkthatprogrammingabilityistheliteracyofthe21stcentury,andyoudonthavemoneytospendoutsourcingdevelopmentanyway,soyoudecidetoanointLearnhowtocodethewinningitemonyourlistthenumberonepriority.Exciting,right?
Well,no,becauseLearnhowtocodeisanintenselyickyitemandeverytimeyoudecideitstimetogetstarted,youwillcoincidentallyalsodecideyourinboxneedstobecleanedoutandyourkitchenfloorneedstobemopped,ASAP.Itllneverenduphappening.
Toun-ickytheitem,youneedtoread,research,andaskquestionstofindoutexactlyhowonelearnshowtocode,thespecificmeansnecessaryforeachstepalongtheway,andhowlongeachoneshouldtake.Un-ickyingalistitemturnsitfromthis:
Intothis:
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Effectiveplanningturnsadauntingitemintoaseriesofsmall,clear,manageabletasks:
IckycombineswithDauntingintoanInstantGratificationMonkeysteroidpotion.Andjustbecauseyouun-ickyanitem,itdoesntmeanitsstillnothorriblybiganddaunting.Thekeytode-dauntifyinganitemistoabsorbthisfact:
Aremarkable,gloriousachievementisjustwhatalongseriesofunremarkable,unglorioustaskslookslikefromfaraway.
Noonebuildsahouse.Theylayonebrickagainandagainandagainandtheendresultisahouse.Procrastinatorsaregreatvisionariestheylovetofantasizeaboutthebeautifulmansiontheywillonedayhavebuiltbutwhattheyneedtobearegrittyconstructionworkers,whomethodicallylayonebrickaftertheother,dayafterday,withoutgivingup,untilahouseisbuilt.
Nearlyeverybigundertakingcanbeboileddowntoacoreunitofprogressitsbrick.A45-minutegymvisitisthebrickofgettingingreatshape.A30-minutepracticesessionisthebrickofbecomingagreatguitarist.
Theaveragedayinawannabeauthorsweekandarealauthorsweeklooksalmostthesame.Therealauthorwritesacouplepages,layingabrick,andthewannabeauthorwritesnothing.98%oftheirdayisotherwiseidentical.Butayearlater,therealauthorhasacompletedfirstdraftofabookandthewannabeauthorhasnothing.
Itsallaboutthebricks.
Andthegoodnewsis,layingonebrickisntdaunting.Butbricksdorequirescheduling.SothefinalstepinplanningistomakeaBrickTimeline,whichslotsbricksintothecalendar.Theslotsarenon-negotiableandnon-cancellableafterall,itsyourfirstpriorityandthethingthatmattersmosttoyou,isntit?Themostimportantdateisthefirstone.YoucantstartlearningtocodeinNovember.ButyoucanstartlearningtocodeonNovember21stfrom6:007:00pm.
Nowyoureeffectivelyplannedjustfollowthescheduleandyoullbeaprogrammer.Onlythingleftistodo
Doing
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Itsnotthatprocrastinatorsdontliketheconceptofdoing.Theylookatthebricksontheircalendarandtheythink,Great,thiswillbefun.Andthatsbecausewhentheypicturethemomentinthefuturewhentheysitdownandknockoutaworksession,theypicturethingswithoutthepresenceoftheInstantGratificationMonkey.Procrastinatorsvisionsoffuturescenariosneverseemtoincludethemonkey.
Butwhentheactualmomentarrivestobeginthatscheduledbrick-laying,theprocrastinatordoeswhattheprocrastinatordoesbestheletsthemonkeytakeoverandruineverything.
Andsincewejuststressedabovethatallachievementboilsdowntotheabilitytolaythatonebrickduringthatslotwhenitsonyourschedule,weseemtohaveisolatedthecorestrugglehere.Letsexaminethisspecificchallengeoflayingasinglebrick:
Sothisdiagramrepresentsthechallengeathandanytimeyoutakeonatask,whetheritsmakingaPowerPointforwork,goingonajog,workingonascript,oranythingelseyoudoinyourlife.TheCriticalEntranceiswhereyougotoofficiallystartworkonthetask,theDarkWoodsaretheprocessofactuallydoingthework,andonceyoufinish,yourerewardedbyendingupinTheHappyPlaygroundaplacewhereyoufeelsatisfactionandwhereleisuretimeispleasantandrewardingbecauseyougotsomethingharddone.Youoccasionallyevenendupsuper-engagedwithwhatyoureworkingonandenterastateofFlow,whereyouresoblissfullyimmersedinthetaskthatyoulosetrackoftime.
Thosepathslooksomethinglikethis:
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Soundsprettysimple,right?
Wellunfortunatelyforprocrastinators,theytendtomissoutonbothTheHappyPlaygroundandFlow.
Forexample,heresaprocrastinatorthatneverevengetsstartedonthetaskhessupposedtodo,becausehenevermakesitthroughtheCriticalEntrance.Instead,hespendshourswallowinginTheDarkPlayground,hatinghimself:
Heresaprocrastinatorwhogetsstartedonthetask,butshecantstayfocused,andshekeepstakinglongbreakstoplayontheinternetandmakefood.Shedoesntendupfinishingthetask:
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Heresaprocrastinatorwhocouldntbringhimselftogetstarted,eventhoughaworkdeadlinewasapproaching,andhespenthoursinTheDarkPlayground,knowingtheloomingdeadlinewasdrawingnearandhewasonlymakinghislifeharderbynotstarting.Eventually,thedeadlinegotsoclose,thePanicMonstersuddenlycameroaringintotheroom,freakinghimoutandcausinghimtoflythroughthetasktohitthedeadline.
Afterhefinishes,hefeelsdecentbecauseheaccomplishedsomething,buthesalsonotthatpleasedbecauseheknowshedidanunderwhelmingjobontheprojectbecausehehadtorushsomuch,andhefeelslikehewastedmostofhisdayprocrastinatingfornoreason.ThislandshiminMixedFeelingsPark.
Soifyoureaprocrastinator,letslookatwhatyouneedtodotogetontherightpath,onethatwillleaveyoumuchhappier.
ThefirstthingyoumustdoismakeitthroughtheCriticalEntrance.Thismeansstoppingwhateveryouredoingwhenitstimetobeginthetask,puttingawayalldistractions,andgettingstarted.It
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soundssimple,butthisisthehardestpart.ThisiswheretheInstantGratificationMonkeyputsuphisfiercestresistance:
Themonkeyabsolutelyhatesstoppingsomethingfuntostartsomethinghard,andthisiswhereyouneedtobethestrongest.IfyoucangetstartedandforcethemonkeyintotheDarkWoods,youvebrokenabitofhiswill.
Ofcourse,hesnotgoingtogiveupanytimesoon.
TheDarkWoodsiswhereyouarewhenyoureworking.Itsnotafunplacetobe,andtheInstantGratificationMonkeywantsnothingtodowithit.Tomakethingsharder,theDarkWoodsissurroundedbytheDarkPlayground,oneofthemonkeysfavoriteplaces,andsincehecanseehowcloseitis,helltryashardashecantoleavetheDarkWoods.
Therewillalsobetimeswhenyoubumpintoatreemaybethejogistakingyouonanuphillstreet,maybeyouneedtouseanExcelformulayoudontknow,maybethatsongyourewritingjustisntcomingtogetherthewayyouthoughtitwouldandthisiswhenthemonkeywillmakehisboldestattemptatanescape.
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ItmakesnosensetoleavetheDarkWoodsinfavoroftheDarkPlaygroundtheyrebothdark.Theybothsucktobein,butthebigdifferenceistheDarkWoodsleadstohappinessandtheDarkPlaygroundleadsonlytomoremisery.ButtheInstantGratificationMonkeyisntlogicalandtohim,theDarkPlaygroundseemslikemuchmorefun.
Thegoodnewsis,ifyoucanpowerthroughabitoftheDarkWoods,somethingfunnyhappens.Makingprogressonataskproducespositivefeelingsofaccomplishmentandraisesyourself-esteem.Themonkeygainshisstrengthoffoflowself-esteem,andwhenyoufeelajoltofself-satisfaction,themonkeyfindsaHighSelf-EsteemBananainhispath.Itdoesntquellhisresistanceentirely,butitgoesalongwaytodistractinghimforawhile,andyoullfindthattheurgetoprocrastinatehasdiminished.
Then,ifyoucontinuealong,somethingmagicalhappens.Onceyouget2/3or3/4ofthewaythroughatask,especiallyifitsgoingwell,youstarttofeelgreataboutthingsandsuddenly,theendisinsight.Thisisakeytippingpoint
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TheTippingPointisimportantbecauseitsnotjustyouwhocansmelltheHappyPlaygroundupaheadthemonkeycansmellittoo.Themonkeydoesntcareifhisinstantgratificationcomesalongsideyouoratyourexpense,hejustlovesthingsthatareeasyandfun.OnceyouhittheTippingPoint,themonkeybecomesmoreinterestedingettingtotheHappyPlaygroundthantheDarkPlayground.Whenthishappens,youloseallimpulsetoprocrastinateandnowbothyouandthemonkeyarespeedingtowardthefinish.
Beforeyouknowit,youredone,andyoureintheHappyPlayground.Now,forthefirsttimeinawhile,youandthemonkeyareateam.Youbothwanttohavefun,anditfeelsgreatbecauseitsearned.Whenyouandthemonkeyareonateam,yourealmostalwayshappy.
TheotherthingthatmighthappenwhenyoupasstheTippingPoint,dependingonthetypeoftaskandhowwellitsgoing,isthatyoumightstartfeelingfantasticaboutwhatyoureworkingon,sofantasticthatcontinuingtoworksoundslikemuchmorefunthanstoppingtodoleisureactivities.Youvebecomeobsessedwiththetaskandyouloseinterestinbasicallyeverythingelse,includingfoodandtimethisiscalledFlow.Flowisnotonlyablissfulfeeling,itsusuallywhenyoudogreatthings.
Themonkeyisjustasaddictedtotheblissasyouare,andyoutwoareagainateam.
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FightingthroughtotheTippingPointishard,butwhatmakesprocrastinationsohardtobeatisthattheInstantGratificationMonkeyhasaterriblyshort-termmemoryevenifyouwildlysucceedonMonday,whenyoubeginataskonTuesday,themonkeyhasforgotteneverythingandwillagainresistenteringtheDarkWoodsorworkingthroughthem.
Andthatswhypersistenceissuchacriticalcomponentofsuccess.Layingeachbrickyieldsaninnerstruggleandintheend,yourabilitytowinthisveryspecificstruggleandlaybrickafterbrick,dayafterday,iswhatliesatthecoreofaprocrastinatorsstruggletogaincontroloverhisworld.
Sothatswhatneedstohappenbutifprocrastinationcouldbesolvedbyreadingablogentry,itwouldntbesuchalargeprobleminsomanypeopleslives.Theresonlyonewaytotrulybeatprocrastination:
Youneedtoprovetoyourselfthatyoucandoit.
Youneedtoshowyourselfyoucandoit,nottellyourself.Thingswillchangewhenyoushowyourselfthattheycan.Untilthen,youwontbelieveit,andnothingwillchange.Thinkofyourselflikeabasketballplayeronacoldstreak.Forbasketballplayers,itsallaboutconfidence,andanicecoldshootercantellhimself1000times,Imagreatshooter,Imgoingtohitthisnextone,butitsnotuntilhephysicallyhitsashotthathisconfidencegoesupandhistouchcomesback.
Sohowdoyoustarthittingshots?
1)Trytointernalizethefactthateverythingyoudoisachoice.
Startbythinkingaboutthetermsweveusedintheseposts,andiftheyresonatedwithyou,writethemdown.PartofthereasonIassignedtermstosomanyofthesefeelingsorphenomenatheInstantGratificationMonkey,theRationalDecision-Maker,thePanicMonster,theDarkPlayground,Ickiness,Bricks,theCriticalEntrance,theDarkWoods,theTippingPoint,theHappyPlayground,Flow,yourStorylineisthattermshelpyouclarifytherealityofthechoicesyouremaking.Ithelpsexposebadchoicesandhighlightswhenitsmostcriticaltomakegoodones.
2)Createmethodstohelpyoudefeatthemonkey.
Somepossiblemethods:
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Solicitexternalsupportbytellingoneormorefriendsorfamilymembersaboutagoalyouretryingtoaccomplishandaskingthemtoholdyoutoit.Ifthatshardforwhateverreason,emailittomeImastranger([email protected])andjusttypingoutagoalandsendingittoarealpersoncanhelpmakeitmorereal.(Someexpertsarguethattellingpeopleinyourlifeaboutagoalcanbecounterproductive,sothisdependsonyourparticularsituation.)
CreateaPanicMonsteriftheresnotalreadyoneinplaceifyouretryingtofinishanalbum,scheduleaperformanceforafewmonthsfromnow,bookaspace,andsendoutaninvitationtoagroupofpeople.
Ifyoureallywanttostartabusiness,quittingyourjobmakesthePanicMonsteryournewroommate.
Ifyouretryingtowriteaconsistentblog,putnewposteveryTuesdayatthetopofthepage
Leavepost-itnotesforyourself,remindingyoutomakegoodchoices.
Setanalarmtoremindyourselftostartatask,ortoremindyouofthestakes.
Minimizedistractionsbyallmeansnecessary.IfTVsahugeproblem,sellyourTV.Iftheinternetsahugeproblem,getasecondcomputerforworkthathasWifidisabled,andturnyourphoneonAirplaneModeduringworksessions.
Lockyourselfintosomethingputdownanon-refundabledepositforlessonsoramembership.
Andifthemethodsyousetuparentworking,changethem.Setareminderforamonthfromnowthatsays,Havethingsimproved?Ifnot,changemymethods.
3)Aimforslow,steadyprogressStorylinesarerewrittenonepageatatime.
Inthesamewayagreatachievementhappensungloriousbrickbyungloriousbrick,adeeply-engrainedhabitlikeprocrastinationdoesntchangeallatonce,itchangesonemodestimprovementatatime.Remember,thisisallaboutshowingyourselfyoucandoit,sothekeyisnttobeperfect,buttosimplyimprove.Theauthorwhowritesonepageadayhaswrittenabookafterayear.Theprocrastinatorwhogetsslightlybettereveryweekisatotallychangedpersonayearlater.
SodontthinkaboutgoingfromAtoZjuststartwithAtoB.ChangetheStorylinefromIprocrastinateoneveryhardtaskIdotoOnceaweek,Idoahardtaskwithoutprocrastinating.Ifyoucandothat,youvestartedatrend.Imstillawretchedprocrastinator,butImdefinitelybetterthanIwaslastyear,soIfeelhopefulaboutthefuture.
WhydoIthinkaboutthistopicsomuch,andwhydidIjustwritea19,000pageblogpostonit?
Becausedefeatingprocrastinationisthesamethingasgainingcontroloveryourownlife.Somuchofwhatmakespeoplehappyorunhappytheirleveloffulfillmentandsatisfaction,theirself-esteem,theregretstheycarrywiththem,theamountoffreetimetheyhavetodedicatetotheirrelationshipsisseverelyaffectedbyprocrastination.Soitsworthyofbeingtakendeadseriously,andthetimetostartimprovingisnow.
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Thefollow-uptothesetwoposts:TheProcrastinationMatrix
Andtwomorerelatedposts:
Whyyoushouldntcarewhatotherpeoplethink.Adifferentstrugglegoingoninanotherpartofyourbrain.Meetthemammoth.
