Procrastination Reimagined

I have watched a number of Ted Talks in my short life-time, and each one provides me with a new way to look at life. Some are more educational, while others explore the epitome of humor itself. They have all collected together in the Ted Talks website to create a library used to discover a never-ending array of topics, with each one being unique in its own way. I have come to appreciate the knowledge of each speaker, but, one video, in particular, Tim Urban’s speech titled “Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator,” has grabbed my attention at this very minute.

Over the course of a year, I have seen Tim Urban’s speech advertised on the sidebar while I was watching other videos. Little did I know that I was procrastinating by not taking the time to watch this very speech. Looking back, I have suddenly realized that I have always wanted to watch this video, but never got around to it because I was pleading with my “instant gratification monkey.” Most of the Ted Talks I have watched have been because of school assignments, like this one. So my immediate reaction is to only watch them when I REALLY want to, or I REALLY have to. But, following Urban’s speech, I have only now come face to face with my own procrastination exercises and the reality of this entity, as a whole.

Urban’s focus is on the components that make up procrastination and how we can go beyond our own understanding to grasp this elusive thought. As elusive as it can be, Urban is able to break it down into a very simple story, so to speak. The main characters consist of your instant gratification monkey, your rational decision-maker, and your panic monster. The vital note to remember is that this “story” is in each of us driving our procrastination, work ethic, and the stressful moments when you realize you left your Chick-fil-A sandwich at your best friend’s house.

I believe this is what surprised me most, the fact that we all procrastinate in some form. Maybe you are the most organized and accomplished person on the planet, but you still missed your train yesterday because you wanted to get that extra five minutes of sleep. This gave me some sort of comfort, as I realized that I do not have to judge who I am, or how much I procrastinate, compared to my co-worker, sibling, or roommate. I can base my foundation on the fact that I can use what works for me, and if procrastination is taking too much of a hold on my life, I will find a way to push it off of my turf for the time being.

This is what I have learned from Tim Urban’s, “Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator.”