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Why you procrastinate even when it feels bad

TED-Ed

7.5M Views . 2022-10-27

Explore what happens in the brain to trigger procrastination, and what strategies you can use to break the cycle of this harmful practice. -- The report you’ve been putting off is due tomorrow. It’s time to buckle down, open your computer ... and check your phone. Maybe watch your favorite YouTube channel? Or maybe you should just start in the morning? This is the cycle of procrastination. So, why do we procrastinate when we know it’s bad for us? Explore how your body triggers a procrastination response, and how you can break the cycle. Directed by Vitalii Nebelskyi, and action agency. This video made possible in collaboration with Character Lab Learn more about how TED-Ed partnerships work: https://bit.ly/TEDEdPartners A special thanks to Fuschia Sirois who provided information and insights for the development of this video. Support Our Non-Profit Mission ---------------------------------------------- Support us on Patreon: http://bit.ly/TEDEdPatreon Check out our merch: http://bit.ly/TEDEDShop ---------------------------------------------- Connect With Us ---------------------------------------------- Sign up for our newsletter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdNewsletter Follow us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/TEDEdFacebook Find us on Twitter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdTwitter Peep us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/TEDEdInstagram ---------------------------------------------- Keep Learning ---------------------------------------------- View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-you-procrastinate-even-when-it-feels-bad Dig deeper with additional resources: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-you-procrastinate-even-when-it-feels-bad#digdeeper Animator's website: https://and-action.net ---------------------------------------------- Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Sandra Tersluisen, Zhexi Shan, Bárbara Nazaré, Andrea Feliz, Victor E Karhel, Sydney Evans, Latora, Noel Situ, emily lam, Sid, Niccolò Frassetto, Mana, I'm here because of Knowledge Fight Facebook group., Linda Freedman, Edgardo Cuellar, Jaspar Carmichael-Jack, Michael Burton, VIVIANA A GARCIA BESNE, The Vernon's, Olha Bahatiuk, Jesús Bíquez Talayero, Chels Raknrl, Sai Pranavi Jonnalagadda, Stuart Rice, Jing Chen, Vector-Dopamine math, Jasper Song, Giorgio Bugnatelli, Chardon, Eddy Trochez, OnlineBookClub.org, Eric Shear, Leith Salem, Omar Hicham, Adrian Rotaru, Brad Sullivan, Karen Ho, Niklas Frimberger, Hunter Manhart, Nathan Nguyen, Igor Stavchanskiy, James R DeVries, Grace Huo, Diana Huang, Chau Hong Diem, Orlellys Torre, Corheu, Thomas Mee, Maryann H McCrory and Blas Borde.

Procrastination is a common human behavior driven by our brain's fear response to stressful tasks. When faced with a daunting task, our amygdala triggers a fight-or-flight response, leading us to avoid the task in favor of less stressful activities. This response is often amplified by negative emotions like dread and insecurity associated with the task.

Procrastination
Fear Response
Amygdala
Stress

  • Procrastination is a common human behavior where we avoid tasks we know we should do, despite expecting negative consequences.
  • Procrastination is driven by our fear response, specifically the amygdala, which releases stress hormones and triggers a fight, flight, or freeze response when we face a perceived threat, like a looming deadline.

Insights from the YouTube Video Script:

1. Procrastination: More Than Just Laziness

This script challenges the common misconception that procrastination is simply laziness. It delves into the psychological underpinnings of procrastination, highlighting the role of fear, stress, and emotional regulation in this behavior. Instead of laziness, the script suggests that procrastination often stems from a fear of failure and the desire to avoid negative emotions associated with challenging tasks.

2. The Neuroscience of Procrastination

The script delves into the brain's response to stressful tasks, explaining how the amygdala (the fear center) triggers a fight-or-flight response, overriding the prefrontal cortex (responsible for rational decision-making and emotional regulation). This

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