Procrastination

We all put things off. When people talk to me about school, work, or choosing a career, procrastination almost always shows up. It looks like:

• “I’ve been avoiding this career decision for months and now I’m stuck.”

• “I hate studying even though I like being in class.”

• “I leave everything until the last minute, then get mad the result isn’t good.”

• “I’m bored” (which can really mean “I’m overwhelmed, so I do nothing.”)

I’m great at procrastinating too. I did it through several university courses and I still stall most mornings before the gym. What helped me change was learning why procrastination happens and how the brain reacts when it sees a task as a threat (yes, the 6 a.m. gym counts as a threat!).

Once you know how your brain works and what’s really making you avoid things, you can make better choices and deal with the consequences. You might know more about how your phone or oven works than your own brain — but learning about it makes procrastination a lot easier to beat.

Get started on your learning journey with this Ted Ed animation video