Deep Dive with Ali Abdaal

World's Leading Expert On How To Solve Procrastination - Dr Tim Pychyl

1053 snips
Aug 25, 2022
Guest
Tim Pychyl
In this engaging discussion, Dr. Tim Pychyl, a retired psychology professor and procrastination expert, delves into the emotional roots of procrastination. He differentiates between procrastination and delay, revealing why putting things off can sometimes feel good. Tim shares practical strategies for nudging ourselves into better habits and the importance of meaningful goal-setting. He also touches on how emotional insights and spiritual flow can help combat procrastination, offering a fresh perspective on achieving effortlessness and motivation.
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INSIGHT

Procrastination vs. Delay

  • Procrastination is defined as voluntarily delaying an intended action despite expecting to be worse off.
  • Other forms of delay, like purposeful or inevitable delays, aren't procrastination.
INSIGHT

Why Procrastination Feels Good

  • Procrastination is driven by short-term mood regulation, choosing immediate mood boost over long-term goals.
  • This is a form of negative reinforcement: avoiding negative emotions is rewarding.
ANECDOTE

Pager Study

  • Dr. Pychyl's research with students revealed that perceived task aversiveness decreases after starting.
  • This shows we delude ourselves about how we'll feel and work better under pressure.
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