Get Control of Your Instant Gratification Monkey
It might seem like no big deal at first, but over time it can lead to unhappiness.
Every year, I have a tradition with my eighth graders that I hope will change their approach to schoolwork and work in general. We sit down and watch Tim Urban's eye-opening TED Talk, 'Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator.'
As we're gearing up for our big end-of-the-year portfolio presentations – a time when everyone is pretty tired and motivation is on the low side – it's the perfect time to chat about procrastination and how to overcome it.
Urban talks about the 'dark playground.' It's like this imaginary place where procrastinators end up, stuck in a cycle of fun they haven't really earned. It might seem like no big deal at first, but over time it can lead to unhappiness.
It's a wake-up call that shows us just how important it is to push past the urge to put off tough tasks and figure out when it's time to work and when it's time to play.
Looking at my students, I understand why the dark playground is tempting. They've got their Chromebooks and often go for what's easy: a never-ending series of tabs, random YouTube videos, or playing games. These distractions, though much easier than facing schoolwork, really highlight why Urban's thoughts on procrastination are so spot-on.
I recommend Tim Urban's TED Talk to anyone who's ever found themselves putting off tasks, big or small. As we juggle work, school, and trying to find personal fulfillment, the lessons from 'Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator' are helpful. It makes us take a good, hard look at how we decide what to do and when, and the big impact these choices have on our overall happiness and success.
Now go forth and get control of the instant gratification monkey (this will make sense after you watch the video).
