Why do we procrastinate?
- Thread starter capper42
- Start date
Personally, no work I have ever been assigned will be completed until the due date is within spitting distance. I can't much explain it. All I know right now is that I'm stuck inside of a VERY deep pit with a broken leg, trying half-heartily to sort of kind of halfway sit up to make an attempt at grabbing a rock jutting out of the wall of said pit. Essay to be written? Eh, I'll do it later. The due date passed? Well, I have other shit to do, it can wait. Need to re-take some tests? It can wait until....uh...oh fuck this
With programming, I'd say it actually helps me to just sit there & browse the internet whilst keeping a problem in my subconscious. Then when I've solved it it gets written down. I don't know whether that's the same with my essays but it's the only way I can justify it.
I recon it's because the work we have to do is so boring compared to the work we want to do. You need to try and get rid of all distractions.
It's simple because we're lazy or hate the task so much that we just dwindle our time/ focus/ resourse onto it for we cannot overcome it in our head.
We're animals. Anything that isn't required for our survival (eating, drinking, procreation) is, in our base instincts, unnecessary... Lions can sit around doing fuck all for 20-odd hours a day.
Sure, we've moved on from simply having the base need to survive, but procrastination is, in my opinion, a symptom what evolution meant our place in nature to be (before we fucked it in the arse with our brains and opposable thumbs)...
I mean... I dunno about you guys, but I've never once put off eating food til later when I was hungry, never put off having a drink when I was thirsty, and if the opportunity for sex arises, as long as I'm not too drunk I'll be in there like a shot (and out again a few seconds later, job done).
Funnily enough, it's all about perception. If I like what I'm doing and it's work, I'll usually do it. But there's still the small perception of the fact that it's "work". I will go to my job, because it gives me money and money is necessary (and it gets me shit I like). However, doing homework? Doing homework is boring, repetitive, and teaches me fuck all. I will literally sit in my room for hours on end rather than do my homework. This is highly ironic, but it still makes sense, because I would rather do nothing and be bored than do something and STILL be bored. There is nothing worse than wasting energy and being bored.
The way I see it, if homework is going to teach me fuck all, it can at least be entertaining while it does so...
But back on topic, I'd rather, say, clean my room or wash the dishes, rather than do my homework. Why? All three of these require energy and are boring. However, Cleaning and washing are boring physical tasks, which allow my mind to wander. Homework is a boring MENTAL task, which makes it lowest on the hierarchy of "shit you want to do". Despite the fact that cleaning my room or washing the dishes may take more energy and be harder than that paper I have to write, I'd rather do them because I don't have to think. I find this funny, because for a supposed intelligent race, we sure do like to stop thinking a lot. Ignorance is bliss, I suppose.
Fun
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Fun Work (P/M)
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Physical Work
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Mental Work
The way I see it, if homework is going to teach me fuck all, it can at least be entertaining while it does so...
But back on topic, I'd rather, say, clean my room or wash the dishes, rather than do my homework. Why? All three of these require energy and are boring. However, Cleaning and washing are boring physical tasks, which allow my mind to wander. Homework is a boring MENTAL task, which makes it lowest on the hierarchy of "shit you want to do". Despite the fact that cleaning my room or washing the dishes may take more energy and be harder than that paper I have to write, I'd rather do them because I don't have to think. I find this funny, because for a supposed intelligent race, we sure do like to stop thinking a lot. Ignorance is bliss, I suppose.
Fun
^
Fun Work (P/M)
^^
Physical Work
^^^
Mental Work
From an evolutionary stand point wasting effort on things you don't actually NEED to do would be very beneficial.
I have learned that my procrastination is telling me I don't really want something bad enough (and I'm probably wasting my time). But in the case of an essay where there's a bigger picture. I work a bit (even a couple of sentences) every day. It builds up a memory response that makes me feel like doing it three days later. (The same thing when I mow the lawns. I hate it at the time, but the next day I feel like doing it). So do what you can, when you can.
But even then, whatever you're working toward, procrastination is, deep down, probably a sign that it's something you don't really want. When humans really want something, they'll do anything to get it.
I have learned that my procrastination is telling me I don't really want something bad enough (and I'm probably wasting my time). But in the case of an essay where there's a bigger picture. I work a bit (even a couple of sentences) every day. It builds up a memory response that makes me feel like doing it three days later. (The same thing when I mow the lawns. I hate it at the time, but the next day I feel like doing it). So do what you can, when you can.
But even then, whatever you're working toward, procrastination is, deep down, probably a sign that it's something you don't really want. When humans really want something, they'll do anything to get it.
We procrastinate because humans are far more busy than we are built for. Studies have shown that humanity really isn't built for the busy lives we modern humans lead, as well as all the visual stimulation from screens, graphics, bright colours you see every day, climate control, airbourne chemicals, etc etc.
It's been assumed that a human should spend around 14 hours MINIMUM a day sleeping. And the rest of it socializing, having sex, eating, or hunting/gathering.
Procrastination is a very isolated human process that stops us from continuing with our busy lives in favour of rest and relaxation, or in most computer users cases, just doing fuck all on youtube.
It's been assumed that a human should spend around 14 hours MINIMUM a day sleeping. And the rest of it socializing, having sex, eating, or hunting/gathering.
Procrastination is a very isolated human process that stops us from continuing with our busy lives in favour of rest and relaxation, or in most computer users cases, just doing fuck all on youtube.
Everyone's reasons are different, and sometimes it's just situational.
1. It doesn't seem important enough to do right away.
2. The reward doesn't seem worth the time and effort for the work.
3. They don't feel prepared to get it done well enough.
4. It involves something (people, places, etc.) that the person doesn't like.
5. The person simply feels no motivation/sees no point in the task.
6. There's something much more fun/rewarding/worthwhile to do instead.
1. It doesn't seem important enough to do right away.
2. The reward doesn't seem worth the time and effort for the work.
3. They don't feel prepared to get it done well enough.
4. It involves something (people, places, etc.) that the person doesn't like.
5. The person simply feels no motivation/sees no point in the task.
6. There's something much more fun/rewarding/worthwhile to do instead.
It's always been my reasoning that we procrastinate in order to get an instant feeling of gratification and fulfillment, rather then facing the harder task at hand. After all, why struggle when you can enjoy yourself.
Doesn't help you very much though >_<
Doesn't help you very much though >_<