Have you actually tested that? Here’s how you can test
Yes, I have. Right now, there are two things I am procrastinating on. One of them produces a clear mental and physical response when I think about it. That one fits your model of procrastination perfectly. The other one doesn’t. When I think about it, I get no physical response whatsoever, and the only thoughts that come to mind are directly relevant details of the task. I’m completely unable to begin working on it. In general, if a task
Is internally generated
Can be ignored or abandoned without consequence,
Provides just enough upside if completed to prevent abandoning it, and
Requires a difficult or time consuming first step to start working on, which can’t be subdivided
Then it can trigger a procrastination spiral without generating an unconscious response. This combination of conditions is certainly atypical, which makes it a corner case, but I think it sheds some light on the general case as well.
Remember, all of your data comes from people who have sought help with their procrastination. That filters out people still in the early stages of a procrastination spiral, where it has not yet become a problem. And if the answer to “What happens if I do/don’t do this” is “not much”, then there is no reason to seek help, which filters out more cases. You only see the end result of procrastination spirals on important tasks; you don’t see the early stages, or procrastination on unimportant things.
When I think about it, I get no physical response whatsoever, and the only thoughts that come to mind are directly relevant details of the task. I’m completely unable to begin working on it.
Those two statements are, AFAICT, incompatible. How do you know you’re completely unable to begin working on it? What stops you? What would happen if you DID begin working on it?
Those two statements are, AFAICT, incompatible. How do you know you’re completely unable to begin working on it? What stops you?
Apathy. According to the attention-allocating part of my brain, it’s of lower priority than games and blogs, even though my conscious mind disagrees.
What would happen if you DID begin working on it?
Knowing what I know now, I’d make some progress. A week ago, I would’ve stared at my to-do list for awhile, unable to decide which item to start with, until the phone rang or something else diverted my attention.
Apathy. According to the attention-allocating part of my brain, it’s of lower priority than games and blogs, even though my conscious mind disagrees.
See this comment for an explanation of why that isn’t actually an answer. Brains don’t avoid things for reasons like “it’s of lower priority”—those are the explanations we use to avoid thinking about things we don’t like thinking about. Your real answer to this question won’t sound anywhere near as reasonable or logical.
Yes, I have. Right now, there are two things I am procrastinating on. One of them produces a clear mental and physical response when I think about it. That one fits your model of procrastination perfectly. The other one doesn’t. When I think about it, I get no physical response whatsoever, and the only thoughts that come to mind are directly relevant details of the task. I’m completely unable to begin working on it. In general, if a task
Is internally generated
Can be ignored or abandoned without consequence,
Provides just enough upside if completed to prevent abandoning it, and
Requires a difficult or time consuming first step to start working on, which can’t be subdivided Then it can trigger a procrastination spiral without generating an unconscious response. This combination of conditions is certainly atypical, which makes it a corner case, but I think it sheds some light on the general case as well.
Remember, all of your data comes from people who have sought help with their procrastination. That filters out people still in the early stages of a procrastination spiral, where it has not yet become a problem. And if the answer to “What happens if I do/don’t do this” is “not much”, then there is no reason to seek help, which filters out more cases. You only see the end result of procrastination spirals on important tasks; you don’t see the early stages, or procrastination on unimportant things.
Those two statements are, AFAICT, incompatible. How do you know you’re completely unable to begin working on it? What stops you? What would happen if you DID begin working on it?
Apathy. According to the attention-allocating part of my brain, it’s of lower priority than games and blogs, even though my conscious mind disagrees.
Knowing what I know now, I’d make some progress. A week ago, I would’ve stared at my to-do list for awhile, unable to decide which item to start with, until the phone rang or something else diverted my attention.
See this comment for an explanation of why that isn’t actually an answer. Brains don’t avoid things for reasons like “it’s of lower priority”—those are the explanations we use to avoid thinking about things we don’t like thinking about. Your real answer to this question won’t sound anywhere near as reasonable or logical.