Why do we act illogically, prokrastiniruem and select the worst-case scenarios
A Life / / December 19, 2019
In the summer of 1830 Victor Hugo was in a difficult situation. Twelve months earlier the famous French author signed a contract with the publisher to establish a novel "Notre Dame de Paris." Instead of writing a book, Hugo spent a year in entertainment and other interesting matters, and work on the novel was postponed and postponed. Publisher tired of it, and he put a hard ultimatum: the book should be ready by February 1831 - it turns out the author was six months.
To make myself still take up the case, Victor Hugo has developed an unusual plan. Writer gathered his clothes and covered her under lock and key, it was only a large shawl to cover her nakedness. Now Hugo was unable to go out, he could only deal with the novel. Author plunged headlong into the job and worked like a man possessed, through the autumn and winter half. "Notre Dame de Paris" was completed January 14, 1831, two weeks ahead of schedule.
The good old akraziya
It is human nature prokrastinirovat. Even Victor Hugo, extremely prolific writer, he could not fight back that distracted him from his work. This problem was relevant at all times, mention of it found in the works of Socrates and Aristotle. Akraziya - so named it the ancient Greek philosophers.
Akraziya - a condition where we act contrary to common sense. You behave in a certain way, although going to do completely different? Here it is. Simply put, akraziya - the same procrastination or lack of self-control. It keeps us on the motion to the target and stops to do what we had planned.
Why Hugo concluded an agreement on the creation of books and more than a year I did not begin to work on it? Why do we make plans, set deadlines, but in the end nothing ever happens?
Why we plan, but do not
To understand how akraziya governs our lives, we must turn to behavioral economics. She explains this by saying that our brain is more appreciative of pleasure that you can get now, rather than in the future.
When you are making plans - for example, going to lose weight, write a book or learn a foreign language - you create a rainbow image of the "future self".
Can you imagine how after a while transformed life, like the brain, such prospects, and he agrees that it is worth some effort.
When the time comes to do something to translate dreams into reality, the image loses its former appeal. The brain is now thinking only of the present time, he does not care what will happen next. That's why the evening we go to bed with a concrete determination tomorrow to change your life, and in the morning behave as before. Plans - it's good, but fun right now - even better.
Strive to achieve success - learn to postpone pleasant for later. When you are able to cope with the temptation of instant gratification, to bridge the gap between what we have now, and the fact that you are going to become much easier.
Vaccination against akrazii: three ways to overcome procrastination
If you want to beat the habit to procrastinate and start doing everything you planned to offer three options.
1. Create favorable conditions
When Victor Hugo put away all the clothes, to focus on the work he had done in full accordance with the method of self-restraint. The essence of this practice: we shape our behavior, blocking access to various kinds of noise and encouraging the right course of action.
You can take control of your diet, getting small portions of food. Tired of wasting time buried in a smartphone screen - remove games and social applications. Addicted to online games has become a problem? Naprosen a bath sheet. Set up automatic translation a certain amount in a separate account and start saving money already.
Each situation will be his decision, but the idea is the same: practice self-restraint helps you to direct behavior in the desired direction. Do not rely on willpower - to create conditions in which to deviate from the intended plan is simply unrealistic. Be the architect of his own future, not its victims.
2. Do not think and do
The guilt of the endless procrastination - torture pohlesche nastiest work. As noted Elezer Yudkowsky (Eliezer Yudkowsky), made of half-suffering business will be less than if you still hangs in procrastination.
So why do we continue to send the case on the back burner? Because the most difficult start. It is important to form a habit to act immediately and without much doubt. Do and do not hesitate, get you or not. Just start, it will be easier.
Direct all your energy on creating a ritual that will help to get started as quickly as possible, and do not worry ahead of time about the results.
3. Make very specific intentions
Plan ever go to the gym - a senseless idea. If you want to do something, stipulate all the conditions: "go there tomorrow at 18:00 and will be engaged in at least half an hour."
The results of hundreds of studies say one thing: the more accurately the intention, the more chances he has to become a reality. And this applies to absolutely everything, from sports to the vaccination against the flu. Scientists have studied the behavior of the 3272 employees of the companies, which had to be vaccinated. Basically vaccination did those who immediately appointed for the event date and time.
The idea sounds ridiculously simple, but this approach does work: precision in the formulation of plans and intentions increases the chances of execution conceived in two or three times.
From akrazii to enkratii
The brain does not like to wait, he likes to be rewarded immediately. Nothing can be done, so how our consciousness. Sometimes we have to choose strange ways of achieving goals, just like Hugo with his clothes. But it's worth it - unless, of course, the goal is really important to you.
According to Aristotle opposed akrazii - enkratiya. Akraziya forces us to give up and give in to procrastination grace enkratiya also calls to take control of your thoughts and actions. Complete power over him - that's what it is. Create favorable conditions, reduce the gap from idea to its realization, and do very specific intentions. Fill your life with enkratiey and akraziyu chase away.