Don’t let the monkey win
I’ve been struggling with “productivity” for a while now, and it’s kind of like an open secret I guess, for people who find themselves ‘roudn these parts. I lamented my “difficult” year. I suck at getting things done. Once, I was rummaging through my bag and it was just a mess of tangles and receipts when it dawned on me that I am really quite horrible at organization.
I think this is why I am always drawn to productivity “hacks,” apps, and systems (the one I’m using now is Bullet Journal a weekly calendar). I’m always in denial of the fact that the secret to success lies within yourself and not within some stupid system. Especially if you’re me, because I’m pretty much ruled by procrastination and self-defeatist logic.
Here, have some Brand New:
In any case, I stumbled across this post, linked on Facebook by my good friend Claudia: Why Procrastinators Procrastinate. It’s one of the best posts on procrastination that I’ve read so far, just because it tries to pinpoint the root of the problem, and at the very least, examine the cyclical conundrum of a true, blue procrastinator.
“Just don’t procrastinate” is such an easy thing to say, but when you’re in the depths of your own despair that not even deadlines or public shame can coax you out of, “just don’t procrastinate” won’t do much. Wait But Why’s point is that the procrastinator’s brain is hijacked by this thing dubbed “The Instant Gratification Monkey,” who makes like Jesus and takes the wheel of your life. The Instant Gratification Monkey steers your day through a mind-numbing stream of YouTube videos and other time-wasting activities, instead of focusing on the deadlines at hand.
This has been my struggle for the past few years. The shift most notably happened some time after my second year of college, I’d say, and I just felt crippled by everything I had to do that I found a few little escapist reasons not to do them. It’s not that obvious because I was heavily involved in extracurricular activities and got pretty good grades. But I think I was kind of scared into action by what WBW calls the “Panic Monster,” the only entity that can overcome the Instant Gratification Monkey.
The fact that I work from home exacerbates this behavior. And I hate it, absolutely hate it. But at the same time, I can’t rid myself of it. I’ve met with the Panic Monster a lot; I’ve even tried to fight it, snubbing it in favor of a nap that I eventually can’t even enjoy because all I can think of is DEADLINE DEADLINE DEADLINE and CRAP PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HATE ME. It’s a real problem. I don’t care if you think it’s a “First World Problem,” it’s real to me and it’s one of my major struggles and it’s a challenge to deal with everyday. I don’t want this stinking monkey. GTFO of my life.
So here is my problem, still staring me in the face. The only thing left here, I think, is to try and make an effort. WBW recognizes the procrastinator’s brain—you don’t want to keep letting the monkey win, but you do, and so your enjoyment is addled with guilt and shame of inaction. WBW knows that kind of duality exists, so they come up with ways to beat the monkey (i.e. procrastination).
And that really is all we can do: try to get over it and deal. No more bananas for you, Mr. Monkey, so help me God. No more frakking bananas.
The post Don’t let the monkey win appeared first on Nothing Spaces.
