econews. Tim Urban takes a closer look at one of the most common habits in everyday life: procrastination.
In his TED Talk, Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator, Urban explains that procrastinators often struggle between a rational decision-maker who wants to complete important tasks and what he calls an “instant gratification monkey,” which pushes them toward more enjoyable distractions.
Urban uses familiar examples such as watching YouTube videos, falling into Wikipedia rabbit holes and simply avoiding work to show how easily people can abandon important responsibilities in favor of immediate pleasure.
He also describes the role of what he calls the “panic monster.” According to Urban, this part of the mind appears when an approaching deadline creates enough pressure to force the procrastinator back into action.
The talk, presented at TED2016, combines humor with an accessible explanation of procrastination and encourages viewers to think about what they are postponing—not only in their daily tasks, but also in the bigger decisions and goals of their lives.
Urban’s central message is simple: delaying a task may feel harmless in the short term, but repeatedly postponing important things can mean losing valuable time that cannot be recovered.