Lecture Notes: The Mind of a Procrastinator

Introduction

• Speaker Background: Former government major in college, currently a writer/blogger at Wait But Why.
• Focus of Talk: Explanation of procrastination behavior and its impact on people’s lives, both short-term and long-term.

Procrastination Patterns

• Typical Student Workflow: Starts slow, becomes more productive closer to the deadline.
• Personal Workflow: Procrastination followed by extreme last-minute rush, illustrated by writing a 90-page senior thesis in 72 hours.
• Outcome: The thesis was poor, despite telling a fictitious story about it being the best ever.

Procrastinator’s Brain

• Hypothesis: Procrastinator’s brain is different from non-procrastinators.
• Experiment: Compared MRI scans of his brain and a non-procrastinator's brain.
• Result: Both have a Rational Decision-Maker, but procrastinator’s brain also has an Instant Gratification Monkey.

Instant Gratification Monkey

• Behavior: Opposes rational decisions to do productive work.
• Focus: Present moment, seeks easy and fun activities (e.g., Wikipedia spirals, checking the fridge, YouTube rabbit holes).
• Problem: Leads procrastinators into the "Dark Playground" — unearned leisure time filled with guilt and anxiety.

Rational Decision-Maker and the Panic Monster

• Rational Decision-Maker: Visualizes the future, makes long-term plans, prefers productive activities.
• Panic Monster: Guardian angel for procrastinators, wakes up when deadlines loom or when there’s risk of public embarrassment or disaster.
• Interaction: Panic Monster terrifies the Instant Gratification Monkey, allowing the Rational Decision-Maker to take control.

Real-life Application

• TED Talk Preparation: Example showing his procrastination until panic set in, prompting him to finally start working.

Types of Procrastination

• Deadline-based Procrastination: Short-term with visible effects — Panic Monster intervenes (e.g., papers, projects).
• Non-deadline Procrastination: Long-term with invisible effects — no Panic Monster (e.g., career goals, personal health, family time).
• Impact: Long-term procrastination can lead to significant life dissatisfaction and feeling like a spectator in one’s life.

Conclusion

• Universal Procrastination: Everyone has some degree of procrastination; it’s more noticeable when there are no deadlines.
• Life Calendar: Visualization of life weeks in a 90-year life span to highlight the need to focus on what’s important.
• Call to Action: Suggests being mindful of the Instant Gratification Monkey and starting important tasks sooner rather than later.