Radio Headspace The Real Reason We Procrastinate, with Mel Robbins
Feb 20, 2025
Mel Robbins, a renowned motivation expert, shares her insights on overcoming procrastination. She explains that procrastination often stems from stress and feelings of overwhelm, rather than laziness. Mel illustrates this with an example of a PhD student grappling with emotional barriers. She also introduces a simple three-step process to tackle procrastination, emphasizing the importance of recognizing stressors and the power of the five-second rule to spark immediate action. Tune in to transform how you face your tasks!
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The Real Reason for Procrastination
- Procrastination stems from stress and overwhelm, not laziness or lack of willpower.
- These feelings make your brain resist expending energy, hindering task initiation.
PhD Student's Procrastination
- A PhD student procrastinated on his dissertation due to his mother's cancer diagnosis and financial struggles.
- These stressors overwhelmed him, making it difficult to focus on his academic work.
Overcoming Procrastination
- Acknowledge your stress and name it out loud to lessen its grip.
- Use the 5-second rule to start the task you're avoiding for just one minute to overcome inertia.