Lecture Notes on Procrastination by Tim Urban

Introduction

• Tim Urban's background as a government major in college.
• Experience with writing papers and procrastination.

Procrastination and Workflow

• Typical workflow for students:
  • Start slowly, spread work over time, heavy focus later.
• Urban's experience with a 90-page senior thesis:
  • Initial plan was to pace work throughout the year.
  • Reality: procrastination led to cramming.
  • Ended up writing 90 pages in 72 hours, pulling two all-nighters.

The Procrastinator's Mind

• Urban's hypothesis: brains of procrastinators are different.
• Comparison of brains:
  • Non-procrastinator's brain vs. procrastinator's brain.
    • Procrastinator's brain has an "instant gratification monkey".

Key Characters in the Procrastinator's Brain

1. Rational Decision-Maker
   • Makes logical decisions based on future goals.
2. Instant Gratification Monkey
   • Lives in the present, seeks easy and fun activities.
   • Causes distraction from important tasks.
3. Panic Monster
   • Dormant until deadlines approach.
   • Instills fear of public embarrassment or career disaster.
   • Only character the monkey is afraid of.

The Dark Playground

• Definition: place where procrastinators engage in leisure activities at inappropriate times.
• Feelings associated: guilt, anxiety, and self-hatred.
• The challenge: transitioning from the dark playground to productive work.

The Role of the Panic Monster

• Activation of the panic monster prompts urgent work.
• Urban's personal experience with TED Talk preparation:
  • Initial excitement, then panic as the deadline approached.
  • Panic monster helps create motivation to work.

Types of Procrastination

• Deadline-based Procrastination:
  • Short-term effects, panic monster intervenes.
• Non-deadline Procrastination:
  • Long-term issues with goals that lack immediate deadlines.
  • Can lead to chronic unhappiness and regrets.

The Epiphany

• Urban's realization that everyone procrastinates in some form.
• Importance of recognizing and addressing procrastination in life.
• Discussion of a life calendar to visualize time management:
  • Each box represents a day in a 90-year life.
  • Encouragement to consider what one is procrastinating.

Conclusion

• Call to action: be aware of the instant gratification monkey.
• Reminder: procrastination is a common human issue, and everyone can improve their relationship with it.