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TED TALK - The Science of Procrastination: Why We Do It and How to Stop



Creator Bio


The creator of this talk is Tim Urban, a writer, and the founder of the blog Wait But Why. His blog posts have covered a wide range of topics, from the future of artificial intelligence to the Fermi Paradox. His unique style of combining humor with deep research has gained him a large and dedicated following. His TED talk on procrastination has been viewed over 51 million times and is one of the most-watched TED talks of all time.


Wait But Why is a popular long-form blog that covers a variety of topics. The blog's motto is "We write long because we don't want to waste your time with shallow content." The blog covers topics ranging from science and technology to philosophy and culture, all with a unique and engaging style.


Why You Should Watch This Video


Procrastination is something that affects many people, and Tim Urban's TED talk offers a unique and entertaining look at why people procrastinate and how to overcome it. Urban's humorous style and personal anecdotes make this talk engaging and relatable. The talk is packed with insights and tips that can help anyone who struggles with procrastination.


Key Takeaways


Here are three key takeaways from Tim Urban's TED talk:

  1. Procrastination is a battle between the Rational Decision-Maker and the Instant Gratification Monkey.

  2. The only way to beat procrastination is to be aware of it and take steps to overcome it.

  3. Structured procrastination can be a useful tool for getting things done.


Step-by-Step Process


There is no specific step-by-step process in this talk, but Tim Urban does offer some advice for beating procrastination:

  1. Be aware of your Instant Gratification Monkey and recognise when it's taking over.

  2. Break tasks into smaller, more manageable pieces.

  3. Use deadlines to your advantage.

  4. Create an environment that's conducive to working.

  5. Use structured procrastination to your advantage.


Resources


During the talk, Tim Urban mentions a few resources:

  • Wait But Why: Tim Urban's blog that covers a variety of topics in a unique and engaging style.

  • Structured Procrastination: A concept coined by John Perry that suggests that procrastinators can use their tendency to procrastinate to their advantage by working on other tasks that are less important but still need to be done.

  • The Pomodoro Technique: A time management technique that involves breaking work into 25-minute intervals separated by short breaks.


Expert Advice


As an expert in this niche, my best advice for beating procrastination is to be aware of your tendency to procrastinate and take steps to overcome it. This might involve breaking tasks into smaller, more manageable pieces, using deadlines to your advantage, creating an environment that's conducive to working, and using structured procrastination to your advantage. It's also important to recognise that everyone procrastinates from time to time, and it's okay to take breaks and recharge.

 
 
 

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