When you let yourself think about how hard it is to get things done, something shifts in your brain.
The idea of "being a morning person or night owl" feels like a simplistic way to explain our unique daily rhythms. What really matters, though, is what actually motivates us? Where do we feel most energized and focused?
For many people, including the author of this article, self-motivation seems elusive. Our days often resemble Netflix binges: scrolling mindlessly through social media or watching endless YouTube videos instead of tackling important tasks.
In a bold experiment, the author decided to put themselves on notice. For one week, they vowed not to procrastinate once – no WhatsApp, no video games, and no social media. Instead, they would write down their daily to-do list and tackle each task head-on.
The results were astonishing: by day two, the author was making tremendous progress, finishing tasks with ease and feeling a sense of accomplishment. But then reality set in on day three. Despite initial success, the pressures of work and responsibility took over, and the author found themselves once again succumbing to procrastination.
So what's driving this behavior? According to Fuschia Sirois, a leading expert on procrastination, our brains are wired to avoid uncomfortable emotions. When faced with an overwhelming task, we often delay it because it brings up feelings of anxiety or stress.
The key to overcoming procrastination lies in acknowledging these emotions and learning to manage them constructively. By identifying the root causes of our reluctance and confronting them directly, we can develop a more productive relationship with our work.
In this article, Sirois emphasizes that procrastination is not a character flaw but rather an emotional regulation issue. Our brains are programmed to avoid discomfort, which leads us down the path of avoidance – in this case, putting off important tasks until later.
Sirois offers several strategies for overcoming procrastination, including cultivating self-compassion, connecting with others who share similar struggles, and using mindfulness techniques to navigate challenging emotions. By applying these methods, individuals can begin to break free from their cycle of delay and develop a healthier, more productive work routine.
The author's experiment may not have provided an instant solution, but it did offer valuable insights into the complexities of procrastination. Rather than seeking a magic bullet for productivity, they discovered that overcoming their resistance required hard work – and a willingness to confront uncomfortable emotions head-on.
The idea of "being a morning person or night owl" feels like a simplistic way to explain our unique daily rhythms. What really matters, though, is what actually motivates us? Where do we feel most energized and focused?
For many people, including the author of this article, self-motivation seems elusive. Our days often resemble Netflix binges: scrolling mindlessly through social media or watching endless YouTube videos instead of tackling important tasks.
In a bold experiment, the author decided to put themselves on notice. For one week, they vowed not to procrastinate once – no WhatsApp, no video games, and no social media. Instead, they would write down their daily to-do list and tackle each task head-on.
The results were astonishing: by day two, the author was making tremendous progress, finishing tasks with ease and feeling a sense of accomplishment. But then reality set in on day three. Despite initial success, the pressures of work and responsibility took over, and the author found themselves once again succumbing to procrastination.
So what's driving this behavior? According to Fuschia Sirois, a leading expert on procrastination, our brains are wired to avoid uncomfortable emotions. When faced with an overwhelming task, we often delay it because it brings up feelings of anxiety or stress.
The key to overcoming procrastination lies in acknowledging these emotions and learning to manage them constructively. By identifying the root causes of our reluctance and confronting them directly, we can develop a more productive relationship with our work.
In this article, Sirois emphasizes that procrastination is not a character flaw but rather an emotional regulation issue. Our brains are programmed to avoid discomfort, which leads us down the path of avoidance – in this case, putting off important tasks until later.
Sirois offers several strategies for overcoming procrastination, including cultivating self-compassion, connecting with others who share similar struggles, and using mindfulness techniques to navigate challenging emotions. By applying these methods, individuals can begin to break free from their cycle of delay and develop a healthier, more productive work routine.
The author's experiment may not have provided an instant solution, but it did offer valuable insights into the complexities of procrastination. Rather than seeking a magic bullet for productivity, they discovered that overcoming their resistance required hard work – and a willingness to confront uncomfortable emotions head-on.
I think its super easy to get caught up in this idea that we gotta be "motivated" all the time or else were failing lol. Newsflash: motivation is overrated 
. The real problem is our brains are wired to avoid feeling gross, like anxiety or stress. So instead of tackling tasks, we just scroll through YouTube 
and pretend everything is fine. Im not saying its that simple but I think we need to stop beating ourselves up over it and start being kinder to ourselves instead
i mean, our brains are wired to avoid stress and anxiety, and that's what's really driving procrastination. we need to take responsibility for managing those feelings ourselves, rather than relying on some magic trick or shortcut. it's all about finding balance and being kind to ourselves when things get tough 
. Like, who hasn't been there right? But at the same time, it's crazy how our brains are wired to avoid all that anxiety and stress 
. I mean, I'm guilty of mindlessly scrolling through social media too, but I guess that's just a classic case of procrastination 
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. It's not about being motivated or demotivated, it's about acknowledging what's driving us and addressing it head-on 
. And I love that she emphasizes self-compassion - we need to be kinder to ourselves when we're struggling with procrastination, you know? 
But this article actually got me thinking about why we procrastinate in the first place. It's not just about being lazy, it's like our brains are wired to avoid uncomfortable emotions... that's pretty interesting 
I feel like so many of us get stuck in this cycle of procrastination because we're trying to avoid the discomfort that comes with taking action. It's easy to get sucked into social media or video games, but at the end of the day, what are we really accomplishing? 
. It's not about being lazy, it's about avoiding those uncomfortable emotions that come with tackling a task head-on 
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. Instead, let's learn to recognize and manage our emotions in a healthy way 
. It's not about being perfect; it's about being intentional with our time and energy 
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. What works for someone else might not work for us, and that's okay 
. Let's focus on finding strategies that work for each of us, rather than trying to conform to some arbitrary standard of productivity 
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. By acknowledging our emotions and learning to navigate them constructively, we can overcome our resistance and achieve our goals 
.
. It's like, what's wrong with us?! 
I gotta say, this article is all about how people are so bad at focusing 
But seriously, it's like we're addicted to these distractions. 
️ It seems like we're stuck between wanting to be productive and not wanting to face those awkward feelings.
, but let's be real... sometimes you just gotta get the work done 
), but about recognizing when I'm slipping into avoidance mode & taking steps to get back on track 
i'm def gonna try those out ASAP 
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! I've been there, done that, and got the t-shirt 
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. But I think Fuschia Sirois hits the nail on the head when she says it's not a character flaw – it's all about emotional regulation 
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. And hey, if you're feeling stuck, just remember that overcoming procrastination takes work – and being kind to yourself 
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. But what's really interesting is that Fuschia Sirois says procrastination isn't a character flaw, it's just about avoiding uncomfortable emotions