What happens in the mind of the procrastinator is actually

We postpone the case, because it's nice

Imagine a student who left a week before the date of the diploma. He sits at the laptop, open a blank page and a couple of hours... hangs on YouTube. At the same time he looks at first videos with informative lectures FeynmanAnd ends the selection of the most ridiculous Feil. Every day there is something more important than a diploma: general cleaning of the house, chatter in chat rooms, release of a new video game.

And here it is, the moment of truth - before putting the diploma is still a couple of days. The student wakes incredible hard work, and he wrote a diploma for two sleepless nights. Yes, a diploma is not the best. But ready.

Common situation? This is the classic behavior of a person who constantly postpones the case for later. Instead of a diploma, you can put off until the last moment of delivery of the report on the operation or speech for presentation at the conference. In general, anything. What is happening at this moment in your head?

Most psychologists consider procrastination dodging, defense mechanism that is activated when unpleasant actions. Man surrenders to feel good.

The problem is that the unpleasant, difficult cases usually bring the most significant results in the long term.

Our system of doing things is far from ideal

Tim Urban in his speech at the TED model of behavior described procrastinator using three characters that coexist in his head.

Rationalist takes decisions

Thanks to him, we can imagine the future, to make long-term plans. It helps us to deal with difficult things, which in the future will benefit. But when he takes a rational decision to do something productive, there is a second character.

Monkey requires pleasures

Monkey prevents rationalists. She is the embodiment of our animal nature. Monkey lives only the present. She has no memories of the past, no future plans. Her only care about two things: that it is easy and fun. When we prokrastiniruem, we go at it on occasion, distracted by any nonsense and do what is important.

In the animal world it is working fine. When you're a dog, and a lifetime doing nothing but light and cheerful things, it is a great luck. And Monkeys people - it is the same animal.

But how to make yourself a procrastinator to do important but difficult things to achieve results?

Panic Monster scares, but it helps to focus

This helps Panic Monster. He wakes up every time looming too close deadline or wakes up the fear of public disgrace. In general, every time when something has to happen terribly important. Monkey amenable to panic, and the rationalist, which no one interferes, can get to work. At this time, we undertake to work, which was long delayed.

This is the system of procrastination. She, of course, is far from ideal, but it works.

Bad news: we prokrastiniruem, even when no deadlines

Procrastination makes you feel terrible. This is partly due to the fact that the entertainment does not bring joy and fun when you realize that they do not have time. Periodically, you rolls guilt, fear, anxiety, self-loathing. On the other hand, the problem is always allowed - you have time to do what you need, and gives up the work on time.

But the main problem occurs when there are no deadlines.

For example, you want to build a career, to participate actively in life - to do art or entrepreneurship. Or to meet more often with family, exercise and pay attention to their health, to work on a relationship or break a relationship that does not bring joy. In such situations, procrastination can be a source of misery and regret.

So, there are two kinds of procrastination:

1. Short-term procrastination. It continues a certain time and ends with the deadline.
2. Long-term procrastination. Deadlines are not limited to, it can last indefinitely.

The second type of procrastination - the most dangerous. It runs quietly, talk about it much less often. However, most important things in our lives is no deadline is not.

Disappointment does not appear due to the fact that a person is not able to fulfill his dream, but because they have not even begun to aspire to it.

Tim Urban

It turns out that we are all in some way subject to procrastination. And even if we are able to plan your work on projects with a deadline, most likely, we prokrastiniruem in some other important areas of life. It can be a career, relationships, health.

To stop all put off, learn to appreciate the time

How to beat procrastination? In this situation, nothing stupid advice "Stop watching and useless things and get to work," you can imagine.

If we encourage this, let's still advise people with obesity just do not overeat, people in depression just do not be sad, and whales beached, just stay within the ocean. Inveterate procrastinators simply can not control their distraction.

In case you prokrastiniruete on projects with a deadline, try to accept yourself for who you are. Yes, you are doing everything at the last moment. But just in time, then it's okay.

With the long procrastination difficult. You do not panic and think that everything will be in time, but always put off his dream later. May deal with their priorities will help life calendarWho came up with Tim Urban.

Each square - is one week a 90-year life. That's what you allotted time.

Print and paint already lived time. Then hang a calendar in the kitchen or put on your desktop and paint over each following the previous week. This simple exercise will teach you to value time.

In our lives, too, have a deadline, you just do not know for sure when it will come. Think carefully what you want to spend the remaining time. And actions.

For those wishing to learn more about the system of procrastination give Tim Urban's speech at TED with Russian subtitles.