Why do we procrastinate?
Edlyn McGarity 
8 tips to deal with the nuances of the human brain to fight procrastination
Understand the science behind why you do what you do.
Your report is due, you have to clear the basement and get your exercise in!!!
Instead, you are on your FB newsfeed, then you go on to check the news, or what Kardashian is having for lunch, then you succumb to a funny cat video that pops up..... two hours later, you have made zero progress.
Why do we procrastinate?
Is it just lack of will-power? Or laziness? Or is it because it’s hard to break an old habit?
Here’s the newsflash!
Our brain is designed to procrastinate!!!
It is wired to put off certain things even if they are critical to our overall wellbeing.
To put it simply, there is a constant argument between two parts of the brain, specifically the prefrontal cortex and the limbic system.
The prefrontal cortex is responsible for planning, decision making and reasoning. It tells you to start a diet, to save, to have that talk with the boss, to stop aimlessly browsing social media or to learn a new skill
The limbic system, on the other hand, is the primitive part of the brain. It controls your emotions and just wants you to be happy in the present. It wants to stay in you 'familiar' zone.
In this constant argument between the two, the limbic system wins if the pre-frontal cortex does not have a sold case.:O
Another thing, the prefrontal cortex shuts down when it is faced with stress, trauma, danger, and the like. For example, if you are faced with a lion, you don’t want to be thinking of pending tax documents, or lowering your body fat percentage, do you?
Now the thing is, the pre-frontal cortex does not see danger in just life-threatening situations. Fear of the unknown, lack of resources, obscurity, lack of self-confidence, etc. is translated into a danger signal and that can cause the prefrontal cortex to shut down.
When the pre-frontal cortex shuts down, the limbic system goes on autopilot!!! That is where the problem arises.
With the limbic system in control, you resort to the easiest and ‘happiest’ options, however unreasonable they may be, options that you will regret later.
Understanding this aspect of the human psyche helps us understand our illogical decision-making.
This is the reason we keep failing at our goals and don't seem to summon enough self-control, however hard we try. :)
In a nutshell, when we work on our goals and action steps, we SHOULD NOT let the 'Monkey Brain' take over!!!
So, whether you are working on goals related to your health, finances, career, relationships, or quality of life, here are a few tips:
The first two tips will give your pre-frontal cortex a strong case against the Limbic system:
1. FOR EVERY GOAL, ASK YOURSELF- WHY DO I WANT TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL?
2. FOR EVERY GOAL, ASK YOURSELF – WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ACHIEVING THIS GOAL?
These next tips will prevent the prefrontal cortex to be overwhelmed leading to a shutdown:
3. BE CLEAR ABOUT YOUR GOALS AND WRITE THEM DOWN. This reduces the overwhelm that comes with having to work beyond perceived capacity.
4. BREAK YOUR BIG TASKS INTO LITTLE CHUNKS. You can trick the brain into thinking a task is not too dreadful, by breaking it up.
5. PLAN FOR AND PREPARE ALL THE RESOURCES. Lack of resources can be translated as a danger signal by the pre-frontal cortex
6. GET AN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER. When you are fighting against your own brain system, it useful to have a friend help you see reason.
7. VISUALIZE THE GOALS: See the outcomes it in your mind. Convince your brain to think you have done it before and it won’t seem too unfamiliar. Check my post Visualize your way to success: https://www.edlynsabrina.com/post/visualize-your-way-to-success
8. PRACTISE MINDFULNESS: Being present in the moment and being calm reduces the stress signals and helps you see the situation the way it is, leading to logical choices.
Three months to go to 2021!
Get the 2020 resolutions done using the tips above!
Wishing you Success!!
Edlyn Sabrina McGarity
Join my FB Page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thegamechangerslaunchpad for a free 6 Day ‘Reach your 2020 goals’ Challenge starting 3rd October, 2020.
Disclaimer :): I am not a neuroscientist, but have coached in the area of Time Management/Goal Success for years. Being a certified Goal Success Coach and a science student, I have tried to simplify this concept as best as can. :)