5. How to actually get things done? Battle procrastination not with self-control

Toolkit for Quarterlife

Do you keep putting things off although you have to do it some time anyway?

Do you keep avoiding work with a ton of fancy reasons (excuses)?

Do you behave like a normal human being and procrastinate?

I know I do, and that’s why I did all these research to try to understand how to cope with procrastination, both the short-term ones and long-term ones.
Drawing on the TED Talk "Inside the mind of a master procrastinator" by Tim Urban, we discuss two main types of procrastination:
Timestamps

[05:13] Short-term procrastination
Willpower doesn’t work, but the following techniques do. Keep experimenting until you find the ones that suit you the best

1. [07:43] Brain dump
2. [08:58] 2-min rule
3. [11:47] Set the bar low
4. [13:28] Break it down into small chunks
5. [13:54] Optimise your environment
6. [14:42] Self-imposed deadline
7. [15:41] Timeblocking /pomodoro
8. [17:06] Take after your well-being
9. [17:44] Stop working

[18:50] Long-term procrastination
We never take actions because of one thing. And that thing, is just, so, boring.
References

• Tim Urban: Inside the mind of a master procrastinator | TED
• Mel Robbins: How to stop screwing yourself over | TED
• Keep Going - Book by Austin Kleon
• Getting Things Done - Book by David Allen
• Atomic Habits - Book by James Clear
• Willpower Doesn't Work - Book by Benjamin Hardy
• Big Magic - Book by Elizabeth Gilbert
• Procrastination – 7 Steps to Cure (Youtube)
• Why you procrastinate even when it feels bad (Youtube)
• Avoiding procrastination in 3, 2, 1: Learn about the 2-minute rule
• Using Brain Dumping to Manage Your Mental Health
• Big Magic
• Getting things done
• Pomodoro Technique

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