Killing time when there’s no time to kill

Author: Dave Healy

The human mind is a curious thing, and never is it more curious than when it is faced with difficult work. Curious in the sense that it begins to function in strange and mysterious ways, as well as curious in the sense that it can become enthralled with things that it would normally disregard as mundane and dull. It falls under the enchanting spell of procrastination, reconfiguring itself to prioritise everything and anything above the task at hand. 
 

Conventional logic dictates that this task is clearly more important than discovering bizarre Japanese game shows on YouTube and subsequently sharing them with unsuspecting friends. Thus, the discussion of this show, which involves contestants guessing whether everyday objects are made of chocolate or not, serves as an all-too-welcome distraction from the ominously looming reality of a deadline. The clock on the wall shifts into overdrive, as the mind wanders further and further in the opposite direction of the goal, which has now been reduced a speck on the horizon.

The brain’s dopamine reward system ensures that the odds are stacked against the procrastinator. When they reach a fork in the road, one path appears harmless, somewhat charming, and superficially pleasant. The procrastinator can see that this path immediately leads to a meagre, but enticing dopamine hit. Considerably more inviting than the other path, which is rugged, treacherous, and dimly lit. No dopamine in sight. The procrastinator knows that the dark, unwelcoming path leads to their destination, and that the other, more cheerful path simply loops around in a large circle, and will take them back to the same fork in the road. Nevertheless, the procrastinator chooses the circular path, despite knowing that they will have to take the sinister one eventually.

This blatant error of judgement can be infuriating to those who make it, as they understand exactly why it is counter-productive, and how it will negatively impact them later. The decision to procrastinate, however, was not taken by the conscious part of the mind, which understands that actions will certainly lead to consequences. Control has been seized in a mutiny by the instinctive, or unconscious department. The instinctive system of thought has foolishly identified a straightforward university assignment as a potentially life-threatening danger, and the conscious mind becomes a passenger.

This seemingly nonsensical response is a defence mechanism, put in place to reduce anticipatory anxiety. Historically, the instinctive system of thought would frequently face far more genuine threats than an upcoming date on a calendar. In today’s world, however, the unconscious habits of our ancestors can be extremely challenging to break. To compound matters, endless stimulation has become endlessly available to us. A conveniently-appearing compilation of clips from your favourite sitcom, or a lo-fi hip-hop remix of the Lord of the Rings theme music, or any imaginable topic you develop the slightest fleeting interest in, are all accessible via the touch of a phone screen.

Dopamine is an addictive substance, one that has never been more widely and readily available as it is today. Like all addictive substances, it must be managed and monitored accordingly. Unfortunately, the solution to the eternal procrastination problem is as dull, as cliché, and as eye-roll inducing as we already know deep down that it is; hard work and dedication.

The only way to break such a habit is by creating a newer, healthier one in its place. This requires discipline and self-control, but with time (which can be borrowed from screen time) and effort (which can be borrowed from alphabetically arranging the spice rack in the kitchen), the procrastinator, or dopamine addict, can become the efficient and fulfilled individual they want to be.

References
1.    Procrastination: Why We Do It and How We Can (Finally) Stop. Lou Cozolino, Ph.D., Chloe Drulis, and Carly Samuelson
       https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/executive-functioning/202310/procrastination-why-we-do-it-and-how-we-can-finally-stop
2.    Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, fast and slow. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.