Procrastination

Dr K: Mental Health Bootcamp: Procrastination

Efficient strategy to getting things done

• Paper due in 3 months
• Brain: I'm gonna do it in the last 2 weeks

Not about quality It's about efficiency

Types of Procrastination

Idealistic (Ready)

• fantasy
• I want this task to be a certain way
• until the brain figures out how how do that to make it perfect, it'll procrastinate
• only gonna date when I'm ready

Strategy

• recognize it's a fantasy
  • setting yourself to to haul
• let it go
• grieve the loss
  • accepting a loss and moving forward
  • not giving up

Avoidance

• emotions
• asking boss for raise, vacation
• brain: how about we don't do that and avoid the fear?
• we have rational arguments
  • not effective

Strategy

• recognize the emotion I'm trying avoid
• what are the consequences I'm trying to avoid?
• how would someone in this situation feel?

Operational

• brain has trouble with unclear tasks
• "oh that wasn't that bad. I should've done that weeks ago"
• starting to do yoga
• abstract tasks are hard
• 2 year old: doesn't know how to break down "cleaning your room"
  • can do the individual tasks
  • if you play video games: you're worse at abstractions
    • it breaks things up for you
• finding a job
  • resume
  • cover letter
  • applications

Strategy

• break down the task
  • start at the end
  • accept the job offer
  • see the job offer
  • interview
  • ...

can't feel accomplished because it's stress relief

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Last update: 2023-04-24