The Science Behind Procrastination
"Yes, I realize I have a test tomorrow. Yes, I know I should be studying for that instead of staying up late and watching YouTube videos...but I have tomorrow morning and lunch to study...the test can wait."
Sound a bit familiar?
Procrastination is a habit that many of us frequently practice. It stops us from doing things that may be really important and unintentionally "stops" time.
But have you ever stopped to wonder what actually causes that "I'll do it later" feeling? It obviously takes place in your brain, but what actually goes on up there when you decide to push something to the back of your mind?
Let's begin with a little brain science. All humans have something called the prefrontal cortex, which is a part of the brain located at the front of your head, around where your forehead should be. This part of your brain is responsible for many complex behaviors, including personality, expression, social behavior, and planning.
The limbic system consists of many parts of your noggin, including the amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, and more. It's located in the midsection of your brain. This portion of the brain deals with three key functions: emotion, memories, and stimulation. It's responsible for thinking and movement. The limbic system also includes the pleasure center of your brain.
Imagine procrastination as a major war between the prefrontal cortex and the limbic system. When it comes to a decision, the prefrontal cortex tries to take over by convincing you that doing your work on time will be beneficial and save you time. But the limbic system fights back with its best weapon: the pleasure center mentioned before. It convinces you that as long as you do your work at a later time, you'll still be able to finish your math homework and the latest episode of your favorite Korean Drama at the same time. If the limbic system succeeds (it probably does), it rewards you with certain chemicals like dopamine, which is why you may feel happy when you push aside your work and start scrolling the Internet. And the poor prefrontal cortex is defeated mercilessly once again.
So the next time you find yourself debating between finishing your homework and watching Netflix, just finish your homework. It'll be over before you know it. Try listening to your inferior prefrontal cortex for once.
But remember, if you do procrastinate, it's not your fault. It's how your brain is wired!
Sound a bit familiar?
Procrastination is a habit that many of us frequently practice. It stops us from doing things that may be really important and unintentionally "stops" time.
But have you ever stopped to wonder what actually causes that "I'll do it later" feeling? It obviously takes place in your brain, but what actually goes on up there when you decide to push something to the back of your mind?
Let's begin with a little brain science. All humans have something called the prefrontal cortex, which is a part of the brain located at the front of your head, around where your forehead should be. This part of your brain is responsible for many complex behaviors, including personality, expression, social behavior, and planning.
The limbic system consists of many parts of your noggin, including the amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, and more. It's located in the midsection of your brain. This portion of the brain deals with three key functions: emotion, memories, and stimulation. It's responsible for thinking and movement. The limbic system also includes the pleasure center of your brain.
Imagine procrastination as a major war between the prefrontal cortex and the limbic system. When it comes to a decision, the prefrontal cortex tries to take over by convincing you that doing your work on time will be beneficial and save you time. But the limbic system fights back with its best weapon: the pleasure center mentioned before. It convinces you that as long as you do your work at a later time, you'll still be able to finish your math homework and the latest episode of your favorite Korean Drama at the same time. If the limbic system succeeds (it probably does), it rewards you with certain chemicals like dopamine, which is why you may feel happy when you push aside your work and start scrolling the Internet. And the poor prefrontal cortex is defeated mercilessly once again.
So the next time you find yourself debating between finishing your homework and watching Netflix, just finish your homework. It'll be over before you know it. Try listening to your inferior prefrontal cortex for once.
But remember, if you do procrastinate, it's not your fault. It's how your brain is wired!
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