Post all the #neuroscience courses and research I’ve consumed this year, here’s the thread I promised: 👉 Why We Procrastinate Spoiler alert :  No, it’s not because we’re - - Lazy - Incompetent - Lacking will-power [1/11]

Before diving into reasons, it’s important to understand that each action or lack of is a decision we’re making. Much like the ocean, we’re only keyed into a tiny chunk of our decision-making process. Fortunately, we have better access to understanding ourselves deeper. [2/11]

There are 3 main drivers towards our decision-making, which further expand into why we procrastinate: 1⃣ Genetics 2⃣ Past experiences 3⃣ Contexts Our tasks are prioritized based on how the 3 have evolved for us. [3/11]

Driver #1  -  Genetics Our genes determine what we’re most naturally inclined to do. How we prioritise our tasks comes from our genetic responses towards survival - keeping us safe from harm/reproducing/eating. Roars were the OG source of stress, mail notifs are ours. [4/11]

#1 We are: 1. Avoiding danger: If we sense “danger”, ie incoming stress/displeasing, we can be wired to avoid it all together 2. Frozen: It’s how our genes react to danger. Not fighting, not fleeing 3. Not motivated: We’re intrinsically motivated by other things [5/11]

Driver #2 - Past Experiences Most of who we are is developed through our growing years–through family, education & our influencers. Our experiences directly impact our perception of comfort, our visualization of the future & our reactions to the our situations. [6/11]

#2 We’re dealing with: 1. Perfectionism: As ppl who want things to be perfect, we’ll never be happy w/ the end result. More reason for us to push deadlines 2. Arousal: We seek the dopamine rush of successfully completing tasks we’d pushed towards an impossible deadline [7/11]

…#2 contd 3. Rebellion: If brought up in controlling envts, procrastination can be a form of passive-aggression, which is furthered by lack of self-regulation 4. Low esteem: Controlling envts can make us believe we’re just not capable enough to do things by ourselves [8/11]

Driver #3– Contexts Our physical, social & physiological contexts directly impact our decisions. We’re procrastinating bc we’re: 1. Equalizers: Everything’s equally important to us. We can’t prioritise 2. Addicts: We’re addicted to something else (twitter/gaming/etc) [9/11]

…#3 contd 3. Or because we’re just stressed: Especially for all that 2020 has thrown at us, our social / financial / personal lives can be in complete disarray and we just may not be in the right emotional/mental space to be able to take on any more. [10/11]

Chances are we’re procrastinating due to a combination of the 10 reasons. But to move past it, it’s important to understand how complex it truly is. Next time you’re procrastinating, don’t blame it on your will-power. Just think abt this thread & give yourself a hug :) [11/11]