Understanding the reasons behind our tendency to procrastinate can help us become more productive. Sahiti Chebolu, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, has developed a mathematical framework to analyze the various forms of procrastination and the reasons why we do it. Her findings could be used to create personalized strategies for overcoming procrastination. Many of us have probably asked ourselves, “Why didn’t I do this sooner?” Whether it’s putting off filing taxes, meeting work deadlines, or cleaning before guests arrive, procrastination is a common experience for many people.Have you ever wondered why we often delay tasks, even when we know it’s not good for us? This is the puzzling problem of procrastination. Procrastination is when we purposely put off things we need to do, which can hurt our productivity and mental well-being. So why does this habit have such a strong hold on us, and what exactly is it? According to computational neuroscientist Sahiti Chebolu, procrastination encompasses various behaviors.The Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics suggests that in order to understand procrastination, it is important to recognize the different types of procrastination. One common type is when we fail to follow through on our own decisions, such as planning to do taxes but then choosing to watch a movie instead. Another pattern is when we don’t even commit to a specific time to do a task, possibly because we are waiting for the right conditions. Procrastination can take various forms, from starting a task late to abandoning it halfway through. Chebolu has categorized these patterns and provided possible explanations, such as underestimating the time required or seeking perfection.The fear of failure and the short-sightedness of the brain are just a few of the reasons behind procrastination. Chebolu believes that understanding the mechanisms at play is essential for overcoming this issue. She sees procrastination as a series of decisions made over time. For example, why do we schedule our tax declaration for Friday night and then end up watching movies instead? Our brains calculate the rewards and penalties of each decision before making a choice.When faced with a choice between watching a movie or doing paperwork, most people naturally choose the option that seems more enjoyable. However, it’s important to consider whether the short-term pleasure of a movie night is worth the long-term consequences of not filing important paperwork and facing a hefty penalty. Our brains tend to prioritize immediate gratification over future consequences, which can be useful in some cases but problematic when it leads to neglecting important tasks. It’s important to find a balance and not place excessive value on present experiences at the expense of future outcomes.This decision-making policy quickly becomes ineffective.”
Just being lazy?
Despite the theory, Chebolu studied real-life procrastination by analyzing large datasets provided by New York University. The data included records of students who had to participate in a specific number of hours of experiments over a semester. Some completed the task right away, others spread it out over several weeks, and some procrastinated until the last minute. Chebolu then simulated their behavior to find the best explanations for their actions.Is there a different approach to procrastination that you might consider?” It’s easy to point the finger at our brain’s inclination towards instant gratification. However, there are other factors at play. Chebolu discovered that there are numerous potential reasons for the different ways in which the New York students procrastinated. “Uncertainty is a significant contributor to procrastination,” she emphasizes. This could manifest as an inability to predict how long it will take to gather all the necessary receipts for tax deductions. But uncertainty can also stem from a lack of confidence in our own abilities or questioning whether the task aligns with our goals.Chebolu believes that by understanding procrastination as a series of time-based decisions, we can identify where and why we go astray, and use this knowledge to develop interventions. For example, if you realize that your brain is too focused on immediate satisfaction, giving yourself small rewards might be helpful. For those who underestimate the time required for their tasks, setting specific time goals could be beneficial. And if you tend to get easily distracted and give up on your responsibilities, it may be helpful to avoid environments that are full of distractions. No matter which type of procrastination you struggle with, there are strategies that can help.Sometimes, feeling lazy doesn’t mean you’re just lazy. It’s important to acknowledge this and be okay with procrastinating in the past as a first step towards being more productive.
