Here's the real reason you procrastinate | Fuschia Sirois | TEDxNewcastle

Many believe that laziness, poor time management, or disorganisation are the reasons why people procrastinate. In this talk, Fuschia will explore the science behind why people procrastinate to reveal the “real” reasons why people unnecessarily delay, the toll it can take, and what you can do to reduce procrastination. Fuschia Sirois, PhD, is a Professor in Health & Social Psychology at Durham University. For over 20 years she has researched the causes and consequences of procrastination, and in particular the health consequences of procrastination, as well as how emotions play a key role in explaining why people procrastinate. Her research also examines the role of positive psychology traits, states, and interventions for supporting self-regulation and enhancing health and well-being.

[alexeyt.]

Summary for procrastinators:

- Procrastination caused by mood, not by poor time management or laziness.
- Procrastination is a psychological way to get relief from negative emotions associated with a task. When you use procrastination to manage your mood, you're actually rewarding that procrastination behaviour.
- That's why negative feelings caused by procrastination increase procrastination too (vicious circle).
- Due to mountains of negative emotions we overestimate how bad we'll feel doing the task.

You should (evidence-based approaches):
1) View your tasks from the lens of meaning. Ask yourself "why is this valuable to me?", "how is it important?", "what will I learn about myself from doing this task?"... It gives tasks more context.
2) Be compassionate and forgiving to yourself.
Both approaches help to dial up your positive feelings, reduce some of the negative emotions.

[DivaDawn]

Good talk! However, the mic was too sensitive and it sounded like she had dry mouth, which made it difficult to listen to.

[stevenweiss]

I learned many years ago to do the one thing I least wanted to do right away even when I didn’t really want to do it. It has helped me immensely in all aspects of my life, but particularly my career and I have passed this on to my kids. And what I discovered is that when I accomplish whatever task it is that I really didn’t want to do, I got an emotional high and felt really good about myself. So the relief I get, the reward that you talk about, comes from doing that thing I never wanted to really do. So there.

[c.golden]

As a procrastinator, I’ve noticed that my problem stems from my also being a perfectionist. Something inside of me says if you can’t do it perfectly then don’t do it. Can anyone else relate to that?

[letawall]

I think procrastination is a fear of not being perfect. I am a procrastinator. I never considered myself lazy and I always completed the job (reports) on time.
I think a procrastinator is not always avoiding a task, but rather thinking about the best way to do it and the steps to do it in. A perfectionist and probably OCD.

[Jrrjrrjrr]

I saw this video and felt that I really need to watch it to solve my procrastinating issue. I opened the video, paused it, and decided to save and watch it for later. Problem remains unsolved.

[livingyearsmotivation]

I said no to procrastination this year. I started my youtube journey this year. I wish you all success in the things you want to achieve. The fact is, you can, and there is someone who will always support you.
Let's do our best in our Living Years.

[daegabmusic]

It's also about insecurity, feeling unprepared or unfit; and fear of making a mistake and the possible consequences of that mistake... feeling the weight of our responsibility, especially if we feel unfit for a task we're unfamiliar with, that pushes us out of our comfort zone... and feeling that it takes time, right competence, correct planning and reflection to "do it properly" (in my personal experience)... also hesitance sometimes, needing to find a balance between wanting to be incisive enough while not wanting to be superficial and sloppy at the same time. All the excuses generated by reluctance, really.
Well, all the above, i suppose, is a description of some of the negative feelings that may hold us back and which we must acknowledge, forgive ourselves for, and then push through the unpleasantness of the task before us, once we've evaluated the benefits associated with its completion.
Thanks for this talk!

[Littletime]

The best explanation I've heard on the subject. My interpretation follows however it is no substitute to listening to the whole speech: Procrastinating is way worse for you than you realise. You don't do it to avoid the task, but to avoid the negative emotions associated with that task. That task likely isn't as monumental as you think, it just feels that way (and that is natural). Any relief from procrastinating is counteracted by other negative emotions and consequences. It also increases the negative emotions associated with the task that was postponed leading to a downward spiral. Try instead to identify the positive aspects of the tasks that need doing. When procrastinating be forgiving and compassionate instead of beating yourself up.

[theexplorer]

When she said that "when you had a task to do but you were uncertain about it that how will you do it how much time it will consume and what will be it's consequences will you make it or not, but when you started doing it once you felt that it's not that much hard as you were thinking" I felt her feelings cause it matched with my current situation and I have experienced it lots of time.

[larryj]

Alright, everyone has made their "I'll watch it later" joke by now!

[wade]

Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after.

Seriously, though. This video is right on point. It is emotional. I tell myself that the time I take while procrastinating will somehow recharge my battery to help me deal with that thing I don't want to do. It rarely works.

[nakanams]

This really gave me a whole new different perspective about procrastination! And I find myself agreeing with the points and understanding more of myself in a way as a self-confessed procrastinator. Thanks for this talk.

[AlpacaRenee]

It’s all about delayed gratification for me. Doing the hardest part first, has helped me a lot. I almost always find that my ‘magical magnifying mind’ has overestimated how awful ‘it’ would be.
“Just do it” has also helped…and sometimes “Just Start It” is even better. Getting started is the hardest for me.

[IbnBahtuta]

I think I will watch this tomorrow or sometime next week.

[husniddin_blog-op]

Procrastination is one of the biggest reason to be unsuccessful

[Justineyedia]

There are also people like me who are not procrastinating but, daydreaming. I am addicted to thinking and it can be so maladaptive. It can be so unmanageable and make life dysfunctional.

[leonardowynnwidodo]

I’ve been struggling with my own demons that is procrastination. Your lecture has given me the strength to rise from my lowest point and soar as high as possible to reach the unknown. I can’t thank you enough to spread this message to help me gain my own confidence. ❤ 🙏

[jesssian]

Got recommended this video and then realised she’s my uni lecturer! so strange to hear her voice on YouTube!

[carriecree]

I procrastinate completely where my own goals or dreams are concerned. I don't value my own wants over the needs of my family. So, my list of to do is always back burner to everything else. In this way, I feel much more accomplished because only when I hear no complaining and requests in the background can I even hear myself think about what I could do for myself. Procrastination has it's place where irrelevant plans are concerned. I finished a bunch of decade old projects recently and felt no satisfaction they were done, why did I bother? I bothered only to distract my mind from the recent diagnosis of my husband's life changing heart condition. I was always the student who waited last minute to complete projects, usually receiving very good grades. I wait until the grocery is about to close to shop frequently. And I am usually still vacuuming when the family begins arriving for holiday dinners. Nobody cares, and I think it's just how some folks are as people.