1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,680 Practical Self-Discipline: 2 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:09,640 Become a Relentless Goal-Achieving and Temptation-Busting Machine (A Guide for Procrastinators, 3 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:10,640 Slackers, 4 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:11,560 and Couch Potatoes) 5 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:12,600 (Live a Disciplined Life Book 5) 6 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:15,040 By Peter Hollins, narrated by russell newton. 7 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:19,560 Chapter 1. 8 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:20,080 Stop Being So “Lazy”|. 9 00:00:20,080 --> 00:00:20,480 Lazy. 10 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:23,960 There is so much concealed in such a small word, 11 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:25,520 isn’t there? 12 00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:28,600 Have you ever had a day where no matter how hard you tried, 13 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:33,280 you couldn’t force yourself to do the tasks you wanted to or were meant to? 14 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:36,840 Maybe you had a day spent wasting time online or watching Tv, 15 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:38,240 knowing that assignments, 16 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:39,200 important phone calls, 17 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:41,160 or chores were waiting for you, 18 00:00:41,160 --> 00:00:44,760 and yet you just couldn’t get any of it done. 19 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:48,720 It may have felt like you were moving in slow motion or just that you had no 20 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:53,080 will to activate your brain from a mode of sloth and sleep. 21 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:54,480 It’s a normal feeling, 22 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:55,880 but as with everything, 23 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:57,000 moderation is key. 24 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:02,440 “I’m just feeling lazy” has become a standard way of explaining this 25 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:04,480 inability to find any willpower, 26 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:05,320 passion, 27 00:01:05,320 --> 00:01:07,200 or perseverance for a task. 28 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:09,120 But what does it really mean, 29 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:13,200 and does it actually help us understand what’s going on in these apathetic 30 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:16,640 moments and help us overcome them? 31 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:20,200 The trouble with “lazy” is that it doesn’t accurately describe the 32 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:24,720 phenomenon we’re talking about—and it certainly doesn’t offer a clue on 33 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:25,760 how to be better. 34 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:29,360 “Lazy” is a harsh value judgment, 35 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:30,440 and worse than that, 36 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:34,680 it fundamentally misunderstands a particular pattern of behavior. 37 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:37,240 Using “lazy” is lazy, 38 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:39,040 funnily enough. 39 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:40,480 In the chapters that follow, 40 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:45,880 we’ll be looking at this “laziness,” not with condemnation but curiosity. 41 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:48,920 What’s really happening when we put off tasks? 42 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:55,160 How can we realistically get better—other than self-berating and writing off 43 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:58,160 sluggishness as an unchangeable personality trait? 44 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:01,880 What is the root cause of this inability to do, 45 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:06,560 and how can we train our brains to move past it or at least not make it our 46 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:08,600 default course of action? 47 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:14,080 Why does it feel so damned difficult to lift a single finger sometimes? 48 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:17,280 But in this first chapter we’re going to be taking a different approach 49 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:18,640 entirely. 50 00:02:18,640 --> 00:02:19,320 Firstly, 51 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:22,840 we’ll dismantle the idea of laziness altogether. 52 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:24,320 It doesn’t exist. 53 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:25,760 It’s an excuse, 54 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:28,520 and as with 99% of excuses, 55 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:33,520 it is a false construction designed to make ourselves feel better (a strong 56 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:36,760 assertion that makes itself obvious only in hindsight, 57 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:38,440 usually). 58 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:39,240 What does exist, 59 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:40,080 however, 60 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:42,920 are barriers to our action. 61 00:02:42,920 --> 00:02:46,360 If you look at a person lounging around in front of the Tv in the middle of a 62 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:47,320 weekday in their pajamas, 63 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:49,840 while work piles up around them, 64 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:51,680 you might call them lazy. 65 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:52,680 After all, 66 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:54,560 doesn’t this schlub have things to do? 67 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:56,240 People are, 68 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:57,480 at the most basic level, 69 00:02:57,480 --> 00:03:00,280 actually quite rational creatures, 70 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:02,960 and they behave as they do for a reason. 71 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:07,520 So when a person’s behavior doesn’t make sense at first glance (i.e., 72 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:09,200 you can’t see the reason), 73 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:10,160 it pays to look deeper. 74 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:12,840 To the environmental context. 75 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:14,040 To the barriers. 76 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:16,720 To the invisible obstacles that, 77 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:17,720 once understood, 78 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:21,680 perfectly explain their behavior. 79 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:24,320 If this is starting to sound more like a psychology book, 80 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:26,400 then the goal is achieved, 81 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:29,200 because any problems we have with self-discipline, 82 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:30,440 self-esteem, 83 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:37,560 self-anything begin with our mindsets and the way we see and observe the world 84 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:37,960 around us. 85 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:40,200 We almost never have external problems; 86 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:42,160 we only have problems of mindset, 87 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:43,280 judgment, 88 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:44,600 and expectation. 89 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:47,960 Consider procrastination. 90 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:50,480 We all love to heap moral blame, 91 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:51,720 onto ourselves or others, 92 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:54,720 for not doing what we should be doing. 93 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:59,520 The way we talk about procrastination is to condemn it as almost a sin, 94 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:01,360 as a personal weakness. 95 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:04,000 But people are rational and logical actors. 96 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:05,600 So what are we missing? 97 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:10,800 Most of us can see that sinning isn’t really the motivation—after all, 98 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:14,760 people procrastinate on tasks they set for themselves, 99 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:17,960 on activities they care deeply about. 100 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:19,880 So what’s going on? 101 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:21,600 If it’s not a moral problem, 102 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:25,440 it’s an emotional and organizational one. 103 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:26,840 Why do people procrastinate? 104 00:04:26,840 --> 00:04:30,240 As far back as 1978, 105 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:35,800 researchers Bem and Funder were showing that situational constraints are a far 106 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:39,560 better predictor of behavior than static personality traits. 107 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:43,840 This means that we are more likely to be products of our environments and 108 00:04:43,840 --> 00:04:45,080 emotional states, 109 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:48,840 rather than simply having unproductive or lazy personalities. 110 00:04:48,840 --> 00:04:51,680 Barriers, 111 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:52,840 Not Laziness. 112 00:04:52,840 --> 00:04:58,280 Let’s consider some reasons that people actually procrastinate, 113 00:04:58,280 --> 00:04:59,040 act lazy, 114 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:01,040 and turn away from self-discipline. 115 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:05,440 It’s time to shine a light into your brain instead of giving you techniques 116 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:09,360 that may or may not work (though we will certainly get to those at the 117 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:10,160 appropriate time). 118 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:14,600 People procrastinate because they’re afraid. 119 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:19,160 If you associate ending a task with being appraised negatively, 120 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:22,400 or having the result found to be not good enough, 121 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:26,400 it makes perfect sense that you’d avoid ever reaching the end of that task. 122 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:32,480 Some people work extremely hard on a project only to slow right down and hit a 123 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:35,120 block when only 5% of it remains to be done. 124 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,240 It’s the safe option, 125 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:38,280 really. 126 00:05:38,280 --> 00:05:42,560 Others will work themselves into a paralysis—their perfectionism and 127 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:46,520 intolerance for potential failure leaving them unable to even take the first 128 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:46,720 step, 129 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:48,560 lest it’s the wrong one. 130 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:49,920 Again, 131 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:55,040 it’s safer to remain incomplete than to face a potentially negative judgment, 132 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:57,680 which can have massive detriments to self-esteem. 133 00:05:57,680 --> 00:05:59,600 So right off the bat, 134 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:04,240 we have an explanation for procrastination that’s the opposite of common 135 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:05,840 knowledge - in fact, 136 00:06:05,840 --> 00:06:10,040 a person may procrastinate more if the task is special to them, 137 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:11,720 since more is at stake. 138 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:13,920 You can be motivated, 139 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:15,480 you can have the desire, 140 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:21,360 you can even have financial incentive and a serious time limit—but if your 141 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:24,440 mind has perceived a threat in the task being completed, 142 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:29,800 you can bet it’ll do its best to squirm away from that task no matter what. 143 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,520 To support this notion, 144 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:39,160 a 2017 study by Leary et al. showed that self-compassionate people were more 145 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:43,280 likely to take responsibility for their goals than those who self-criticized. 146 00:06:43,280 --> 00:06:46,840 This means that the harsher people are on themselves, 147 00:06:46,840 --> 00:06:50,680 the more they are going to avoid action and appear to be lazy. 148 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:52,440 Importantly, 149 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:56,360 judgments in the form of calling yourself “lazy” or piling on guilt will 150 00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:58,240 only make things worse. 151 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:02,120 What will make things better and people more likely to act? 152 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:04,800 Anything that relieves anxiety. 153 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:10,760 The paradox is then that “self-discipline” can stem from actively stepping 154 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:13,600 away from a task that’s causing you anxiety. 155 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:16,320 Can you reframe things? 156 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:19,840 Can you become aware of exactly what thoughts are causing you to pull back? 157 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:25,080 It might be as simple as giving yourself permission to do things “badly” or 158 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:27,320 to ease off some of the pressure you’ve put on yourself. 159 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:33,400 Remind yourself that it’s okay to feel afraid but that you can do it and that 160 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:34,000 you will be okay, 161 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:36,680 no matter the outcome of this particular task. 162 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:39,960 Look closely at your fears. 163 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:41,160 Face them, 164 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:44,560 and speak them out loud or write them in a journal. 165 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:49,400 You may procrastinate writing your book because deep down you’re petrified 166 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:51,440 people will think it’s bad and won’t read it. 167 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:57,120 Sink even deeper into the fear and you may uncover deep feelings of shame or 168 00:07:57,120 --> 00:07:59,120 beliefs that you’re a “bad” person. 169 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:01,440 This causes anxiety, 170 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:06,080 and anxiety always causes a “fight-or-flight” response—i.e., 171 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:10,440 procrastination and bailing on the plan for your day of productive work. 172 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:12,240 Instead, 173 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:15,320 understand your fears and know them well. 174 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:16,600 Actually, 175 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:18,280 it’s not that difficult to find, 176 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:22,840 and you may not need a therapist to help you get to the root of maladaptive 177 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:23,240 thoughts. 178 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:28,480 You really just need honesty in speaking out loud the feelings and emotions 179 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:29,560 that you want to avoid. 180 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:30,640 For example, 181 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:35,360 is it really the end of the world if you earn a little criticism for this task? 182 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:39,760 Is it really true that failing once or twice means you’re not a good human 183 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:40,760 being worthy of love? 184 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:46,000 Should it really act as a confirmation about some of the worst fears you have 185 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:46,800 about yourself? 186 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:52,240 Perhaps an alternative - isn’t it possible to try again, 187 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:53,600 or even worse, 188 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:57,480 can you imagine that your fears are unfounded and that you may even succeed? 189 00:08:57,480 --> 00:08:58,920 For some people, 190 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:03,880 facing their fears leads them to an unexpected culprit behind their 191 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:06,480 procrastination—the fear of success! 192 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:12,160 Fear is often at the root of so much procrastination and avoidance behavior. 193 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:13,560 For some of us, 194 00:09:13,560 --> 00:09:15,800 we don’t exactly have the thought, 195 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:17,680 “If I complete this task, 196 00:09:17,680 --> 00:09:21,040 I’ll do poorly and feel bad,” but it’s more something like, 197 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:24,560 “I can’t be 100% certain about how this will turn out, 198 00:09:24,560 --> 00:09:26,160 and I’d rather not risk it." 199 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:30,280 Fearing the unknown is present in all of us, 200 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:31,000 to some extent, 201 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:35,920 but it may be more debilitating in those with extreme procrastination problems. 202 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:41,080 It can be the sheer newness and uncertainty of a task at hand that proves 203 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:45,000 frightening and hence becomes something to avoid and put off. 204 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:51,560 This can happen if we’ve unconsciously told ourselves that unknown = 205 00:09:51,560 --> 00:09:52,000 threatening. 206 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:55,040 Uncertainty can cause anxiety, 207 00:09:55,040 --> 00:09:57,800 and rather than court potential catastrophe, 208 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:02,200 a person may choose to put off a potential conclusion instead of facing an 209 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:03,240 unknown outcome. 210 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:07,240 So even if the status quo is quite painful in itself, 211 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:10,000 it’s still known and familiar, 212 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:13,600 and clinging to it is preferable to risking something new. 213 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:20,120 This fear can understandably mix with feelings of low confidence and efficacy 214 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:22,520 (“something unpleasant might happen, 215 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:23,960 and I won’t be able to handle it”), 216 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:28,920 exhaustion (“I’m too tired to think about something new or different right 217 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:30,000 now”), 218 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:33,320 or fear of success (“If I succeed, 219 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:36,240 everything might change and I don’t know if I want that.”) 220 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:41,160 This kind of thinking can take on an obsessive quality, 221 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:45,720 where people make “rules” to mediate some of the anxiety of an overwhelming 222 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:46,080 task. 223 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:47,520 For example, 224 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:52,120 someone might procrastinate going to the doctor because what they discover 225 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:53,880 there might be too much to handle, 226 00:10:53,880 --> 00:10:58,200 so they try to reduce uncertainty by “researching” their symptoms 227 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:00,480 extensively so they can feel reassured. 228 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:03,200 If you recognize this in yourself, 229 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:07,800 the first step is to bring these fears out into the light and start facing 230 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:08,840 them, 231 00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:10,160 alone or with a therapist. 232 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:11,800 Where you can, 233 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:16,920 try to “rest” these fears and beliefs to gradually start dismantling them. 234 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:20,120 To illustrate this testing, 235 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:25,080 a woman might find that her procrastination and laziness in speaking up at her 236 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:30,240 workplace comes down to a handful of fears like the above—“I can’t be 237 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:32,200 sure people won’t judge me harshly”; 238 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:34,600 “If my boss sees me mess up, 239 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:35,280 I’ll be fired”; 240 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:41,040 “If I do too well they may ask even more of me or criticize me for being too 241 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:45,520 arrogant…” Realizing that these thoughts are the root of her 242 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:50,120 “laziness,” the woman then starts to unpick them by doing a series of 243 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:52,440 “tests” to prove to herself that she’s wrong. 244 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:54,760 She might speak up in a meeting, 245 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:59,640 submit smaller tasks when she’s feeling unsure and gauging the reaction, 246 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:03,920 or giving herself the chance to notice others in the office who are not fired 247 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:07,240 or chastised simply for being wrong occasionally. 248 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:08,720 Gradually, 249 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:13,320 she reprograms her beliefs and removes the main obstacle to working 250 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:15,160 productively and efficiently. 251 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:20,760 People procrastinate because they have a fixed mindset. 252 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:25,280 “I’m not going to try that new task because I’ve just never been good at 253 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:26,160 similar tasks." 254 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:30,000 “I don’t want to go back to university because I’m too old." 255 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:32,200 “I’ve always been this lazy; 256 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:33,720 it’s just the way I am." 257 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:39,960 Carol Dweck’s now-famous concept of “fixed” versus “growth” mindsets 258 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:42,400 can tell us a lot about procrastination. 259 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:47,640 A fixed mindset is the belief that intelligence and ability are set at birth 260 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:49,920 and are broadly unchangeable. 261 00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:52,320 They’re part of the personality, 262 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:53,920 or constitutional. 263 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:57,360 This means there’s very little point in trying to change them! 264 00:12:57,360 --> 00:13:02,480 A very negative side effect of this belief is the idea that success, 265 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:03,560 if it comes, 266 00:13:03,560 --> 00:13:06,480 is natural and that if you’re meant to do something well, 267 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:10,080 you ought to do so immediately and with ease. 268 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:12,520 Someone may try a new hobby, 269 00:13:12,520 --> 00:13:14,120 find it quite difficult, 270 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:15,320 and throw their hands up and quit, 271 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:19,400 because they believe that they simply weren’t born with the requisite 272 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:20,320 intelligence to do it. 273 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:21,640 What’s more, 274 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:25,920 they have a low tolerance for being a beginner—they don’t want to look like 275 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:28,000 they’re unintelligent or make mistakes. 276 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:32,400 So they avoid or procrastinate or fail to take action at all. 277 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:38,320 The more adaptive and useful mindset is seeing life as a work in progress and 278 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:40,480 the brain as a fluid, 279 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:41,320 trainable thing. 280 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:46,360 This “growth” mindset means that intelligence and ability are developed 281 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:47,240 deliberately, 282 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:48,600 with consistent, 283 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:52,160 slow practice that improves skill in increments. 284 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:53,240 This way, 285 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:57,800 a person is never surprised to make mistakes as they learn—in fact they 286 00:13:57,800 --> 00:13:59,040 expect it. 287 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:00,640 They are comfortable with being a beginner, 288 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:04,280 because they understand that mastery is a process. 289 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:07,720 If they begin a task and are not immediately rewarded, 290 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:12,520 they don’t quit or procrastinate—they take it in stride and carry on. 291 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:18,000 If you find yourself with thoughts that hint at a fixed mindset when it comes 292 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:19,280 to the tasks you’re avoiding, 293 00:14:19,280 --> 00:14:22,080 it may be time to reframe a little. 294 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:26,600 Train yourself to completely forget about the big goal at the end. 295 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:30,520 Focus only on the smaller tasks in the interim. 296 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:34,080 Try to detach your ego from the outcome. 297 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:39,000 Remind yourself that trying and failing is normal and proof that you’re 298 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:40,040 learning! 299 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:43,240 It may even help to try focusing on the process instead of the outcome. 300 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:46,320 Plan to do a number of hours, 301 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:46,720 say, 302 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:50,360 rather than assign yourself an impossible and lofty goal at the outset. 303 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:52,720 As a practical example, 304 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:57,920 a poor goal would be “do well on my assignment” whereas a better one could 305 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:01,280 be “try my hardest on my assignment." 306 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:06,840 The latter is less ego- and goal-centered and is more reasonably under your 307 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:07,320 control. 308 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:08,800 Finally, 309 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:14,280 learn to laugh at yourself a little—sometimes “finished is better than 310 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:14,480 perfect”! 311 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:20,240 Someone might feel that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” and as a 312 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:22,800 result procrastinates on all those “new tricks." 313 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:23,720 For example, 314 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:27,480 despite being asked repeatedly to go to therapy with his partner, 315 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:28,640 he may refuse, 316 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:32,720 believing that it’s just not in his nature to talk about his feelings. 317 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:33,800 Here, 318 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:36,200 as with many cases of procrastination, 319 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:38,720 it can pay to ask sincerely, 320 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:44,840 “What am I really trying to accomplish right now?” and “Why is what I’m 321 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:46,640 trying to do important to me?" 322 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:49,400 Realizing that, 323 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:50,080 deep down, 324 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:54,520 protecting and maintaining his relationship is worth more than momentarily 325 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:55,240 feeling right, 326 00:15:55,240 --> 00:16:00,080 he may have the impetus to push past beliefs that nothing will change or 327 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:01,560 he’ll look stupid trying. 328 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:07,520 Reconnecting with this deeper purpose can bring clarity and inspire action. 329 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:09,680 If this rings true for you, 330 00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:14,840 ask yourself if momentarily protecting your ego or avoiding the slight 331 00:16:14,840 --> 00:16:19,960 embarrassment of failing or being wrong is worth passing up on your dreams and 332 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:20,440 goals. 333 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:25,640 Do you keep a big bank of embarrassing memories of all the times people around 334 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:26,560 you looked a little silly? 335 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:27,760 If not, 336 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:32,080 then don’t expect that others will remember your slip-ups either! 337 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:38,080 People procrastinate because they have low self-confidence. 338 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:43,760 According to Dr. Lisa Saulsman and the Center for Clinical Interventions, 339 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:49,120 it’s natural that people shy away from tasks that might expose any weakness 340 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:49,520 or flaw. 341 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:53,080 If you think that you’re generally not that great, 342 00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:56,760 you might avoid all situations where you have to apply yourself, 343 00:16:56,760 --> 00:16:58,600 be appraised or rated, 344 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:01,360 or have your work looked at by others. 345 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:06,640 The belief that we are fundamentally up to the tasks life throws our way is the 346 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:08,720 root of high self-esteem. 347 00:17:08,720 --> 00:17:10,920 If this doesn’t sound like you, 348 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:16,000 you may have automatically assumed you’ll fail and now are procrastinating on 349 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:19,880 the task because you “know” that doing it will expose your weaknesses to 350 00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:21,920 others and be painful for you. 351 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:25,680 If self-belief is low enough, 352 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:30,000 people may stop themselves even from wanting to set goals for themselves, 353 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:33,000 convinced in advance they’d only fail. 354 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:34,680 Unfortunately, 355 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:38,240 this means they never give themselves the opportunity to prove themselves 356 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:38,600 wrong, 357 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:41,680 making this attitude somewhat self-fulfilling. 358 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:47,360 People with severely low confidence will avoid challenging or pushing 359 00:17:47,360 --> 00:17:51,200 themselves and cringe away from criticism or failure. 360 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:56,440 What better way to avoid failure entirely than to not even try in the first 361 00:17:56,440 --> 00:17:56,840 place? 362 00:17:56,840 --> 00:18:01,360 Someone could start to challenge these limiting beliefs, 363 00:18:01,360 --> 00:18:01,800 however, 364 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:06,960 by gently encouraging themselves to take small steps to prove themselves wrong. 365 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:08,480 Sometimes, 366 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:14,120 even deliberately courting a negative outcome can be strangely liberating—a 367 00:18:14,120 --> 00:18:18,360 person deathly afraid of sharing their art may suddenly realize they don’t 368 00:18:18,360 --> 00:18:22,840 actually care so much once they get their first dreaded negative reaction. 369 00:18:22,840 --> 00:18:25,440 If you have low self-esteem, 370 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:30,720 it may help to journal down all the ways you’ve survived and overcome 371 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:32,320 adversity in the past already. 372 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:37,720 Try to find evidence for a new narrative—one in which you are capable and 373 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:40,800 able to deal with what life throws your way. 374 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:47,440 People procrastinate because the task is confusing or overwhelming. 375 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:49,480 Often, 376 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:53,360 the barrier is simply that although the alarm bells are blaring in your 377 00:18:53,360 --> 00:18:58,640 head—get this done!—you’re not at all clear about how to do that or what 378 00:18:58,640 --> 00:18:59,800 steps to take first. 379 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:05,240 So you turn up to the task filled with the desire and motivation to do good 380 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:05,760 work, 381 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:08,360 but you’re confused and have no direction. 382 00:19:08,360 --> 00:19:10,400 The thing looks overwhelming. 383 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:11,760 Immediately, 384 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:17,480 your anxiety goes up and your sense of efficacy and confidence goes right down. 385 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:21,640 Though such a problem isn’t strictly emotional to start with, 386 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:26,320 it soon leaves you with a bunch of unpleasant feelings that can make you spiral 387 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:26,800 out of control. 388 00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:29,080 It’s an organizational problem, 389 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:32,240 and this is not something that is ever strictly taught, 390 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:32,560 is it? 391 00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:34,320 Here, 392 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:38,920 the solution is not emotional so much as practical and executive. 393 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:44,800 It’s all about carefully dividing tasks up into smaller tasks and completing 394 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:46,000 them in an orderly fashion. 395 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:50,480 Procrastination can happen when there is a lack of organization in the way a 396 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:51,520 task is approached. 397 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:57,160 Sorting through a task step by step can give you a sense of control and order 398 00:19:57,160 --> 00:19:58,600 and give you clear, 399 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:02,520 concrete work to do every time you sit down to tackle it. 400 00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:04,120 Here, 401 00:20:04,120 --> 00:20:08,800 “laziness” tells a very different story about someone’s thought process. 402 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:13,520 A complicated work presentation you need to compile within two weeks can look 403 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:15,800 overwhelming and lead you to procrastinate. 404 00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:18,840 Instead of reprimanding yourself for being lazy, 405 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:19,040 though, 406 00:20:19,040 --> 00:20:22,040 simply take a deep breath and break the thing down. 407 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:23,520 Ask yourself, 408 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:27,160 “What is the one thing I need to do to start moving again?" 409 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:31,720 Just one thing - what you can do in the next five minutes, 410 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:32,440 for example. 411 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:35,960 Identify separate tasks of researching data, 412 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:37,960 compiling a graph or two, 413 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:39,200 finding images, 414 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:41,080 writing some descriptive text, 415 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:42,920 getting someone to look over the slideshow, 416 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:45,720 adding a list of references or further reading, 417 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:46,520 etc. 418 00:20:46,520 --> 00:20:51,000 Don’t worry if you don’t have a 100% clear picture before you begin. 419 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:55,920 Only aim to make it a little clearer and understand your very next step. 420 00:20:55,920 --> 00:21:00,040 Focus on what needs to happen instead of the big picture. 421 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:01,440 Now, 422 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:06,040 you can relax and let your field of attention shrink down to a more manageable 423 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:07,080 single task, 424 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:08,240 one at a time. 425 00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:11,920 Set aside some time and work on just one aspect. 426 00:21:11,920 --> 00:21:13,640 Adjust as you go. 427 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:18,920 Feeling confused or overwhelmed is not a cause for alarm—it’s simply a 428 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:21,040 little bell inviting you to stop for a moment, 429 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:23,800 reorient yourself to your goals and values, 430 00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:27,080 and remember what you were ultimately trying to achieve. 431 00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:30,760 What is unnecessary and can be eliminated? 432 00:21:30,760 --> 00:21:33,720 What is the core and what is peripheral? 433 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:36,560 Center yourself and wait a moment. 434 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:41,120 Sometimes giving confusion a little time is all that’s needed to gain some 435 00:21:41,120 --> 00:21:44,920 clarity and an idea of what your next step should be. 436 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:50,480 People procrastinate because they’re mentally or physically unwell. 437 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:56,760 Emotional barriers (like fear of failure or not being good enough) 438 00:21:56,760 --> 00:22:01,800 and executive barriers (not knowing how to break an overwhelming task down 439 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:02,600 systematically) 440 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:06,240 are two of the most common reasons for the “laziness” that is 441 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:07,160 procrastination. 442 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:12,400 But there are other barriers too—some of them even invisible to the person 443 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:12,880 themselves. 444 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:13,920 Again, 445 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:17,960 “laziness” takes on a whole different meaning when we can view it through 446 00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:19,160 an alternative lens. 447 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:21,240 We might find that we, 448 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:22,920 or others around us, 449 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:24,320 aren’t lazy at all. 450 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:26,160 Untreated anxiety, 451 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:28,320 depression or other mental illness, 452 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:29,720 Adhd, 453 00:22:29,720 --> 00:22:31,600 undiagnosed autism, 454 00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:32,320 stress, 455 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:37,160 or trauma can hinder the many cognitive processes that need to take place to 456 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:37,800 complete a task. 457 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:41,960 Low confidence and self-esteem can lead to self-sabotage. 458 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:43,480 Physiologically, 459 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:47,840 it’s obvious that work is more difficult to stick with if a person is 460 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:48,560 sleep-deprived, 461 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:49,400 undernourished, 462 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:50,160 ill, 463 00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:51,320 or uncomfortable. 464 00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:55,280 Ask if you’re avoiding the task or are just tired, 465 00:22:55,280 --> 00:22:55,840 hungry, 466 00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:56,600 thirsty, 467 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:58,160 too hot or cold, 468 00:22:58,160 --> 00:22:58,880 etc. 469 00:22:58,880 --> 00:23:00,800 On this note, 470 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:04,240 it’s worth taking a moment to separate “lazy” from “tired." 471 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:09,360 Sometimes “I don’t have the energy” is actually just code for “I have 472 00:23:09,360 --> 00:23:09,800 the energy, 473 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:12,000 but I don’t want to spend it on this." 474 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:16,840 You may find an overachiever calling their genuine exhaustion “laziness." 475 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:21,560 The socially accepted response to fatigue is to fight against it - drink 476 00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:21,960 coffee, 477 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:23,040 push through, 478 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:24,560 and stop whining. 479 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:28,600 But what if we were to force an elite athlete to act in this manner? 480 00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:33,320 We would hopefully recognize that rest and recovery are part of the winning 481 00:23:33,320 --> 00:23:36,880 equation to be able to push even harder—why should it be any different with 482 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:37,800 our mental energy? 483 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:43,480 You may find your body forcing you to take a break if you won’t heed its 484 00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:45,040 polite request for a rest! 485 00:23:45,040 --> 00:23:50,880 Here’s where self-condemnation and blame enter again and have a disastrous 486 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:51,240 effect. 487 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:53,240 We fear inactivity, 488 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:53,960 rest, 489 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:55,480 or quiet contemplation, 490 00:23:55,480 --> 00:24:00,080 and so we browbeat ourselves into doing more when we’re tired—or at least 491 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:04,320 making sure we don’t actively enjoy our downtime by piling on guilt when we 492 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:05,200 stop! 493 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:09,200 A little self-awareness and compassion can make the difference. 494 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:13,840 Take a nap and note your feelings toward the task when you’re refreshed and 495 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:14,400 rested. 496 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:17,960 Give yourself permission to take a walk and do something else, 497 00:24:17,960 --> 00:24:20,440 and see if your motivation returns in time. 498 00:24:20,440 --> 00:24:24,720 Be honest about whether you’re giving yourself adequate time to sleep and 499 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:25,280 rest. 500 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:27,080 We are not machines, 501 00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:31,160 and treating our bodies like they’re not allowed to rest can have dire 502 00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:35,360 consequences—not to mention making us less productive anyway. 503 00:24:35,360 --> 00:24:37,240 As an example, 504 00:24:37,240 --> 00:24:41,200 someone might find they repeatedly have to force themselves through a new 505 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:41,600 project. 506 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:42,960 They stop and ask, 507 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:46,200 “Is this the most important thing I should be doing right now?” and 508 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:47,560 discover that, 509 00:24:47,560 --> 00:24:48,520 in fact, 510 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:52,800 their priority at that moment is not the project but their own rest and 511 00:24:52,800 --> 00:24:53,120 well-being. 512 00:24:53,120 --> 00:24:57,120 By simply changing your focus from judgment to curiosity, 513 00:24:57,120 --> 00:25:02,520 you can start to look at laziness with compassion and empathy and start finding 514 00:25:02,520 --> 00:25:03,600 real ways around it. 515 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:09,280 Laziness will seem like a symptom of a bigger problem—one that can always be 516 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:09,760 solved. 517 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:11,000 Finally, 518 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:15,520 it’s worth noting something else that’s seldom mentioned - if you’re 519 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:19,120 avoiding a task you’ve told yourself you want to do or should do, 520 00:25:19,120 --> 00:25:20,440 take a closer look. 521 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:25,200 You might discover that you don’t in fact want to do it or that your 522 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:27,160 motivations are external and superficial. 523 00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:31,800 In this case your avoidance is really a sign that the task is not something 524 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:32,640 you’re truly aligned with. 525 00:25:32,640 --> 00:25:34,000 You don’t care, 526 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:35,280 you’re apathetic, 527 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:39,040 and you would rather clean the bathroom for the fifth time than devote your 528 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:40,680 time to this thing. 529 00:25:40,680 --> 00:25:43,120 While this isn’t always helpful information, 530 00:25:43,120 --> 00:25:48,160 don’t ignore this warning sign about what you care or are passionate about. 531 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:54,480 It seems obvious when you say it deliberately - nobody is intrinsically a 532 00:25:54,480 --> 00:25:58,080 failure or wants to be lazy or weak-willed or apathetic. 533 00:25:58,080 --> 00:26:00,480 We don’t want to view ourselves that way, 534 00:26:00,480 --> 00:26:03,640 and we will engage in mental acrobatics to avoid it. 535 00:26:03,640 --> 00:26:08,880 We all have a desire to work meaningfully toward goals that are important to us. 536 00:26:08,880 --> 00:26:11,240 If you find yourself feeling lazy, 537 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:16,360 it’s almost always a question of removing the barriers and identifying what 538 00:26:16,360 --> 00:26:18,280 is actually keeping you from motion. 539 00:26:18,280 --> 00:26:20,720 Once the barriers are removed, 540 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:24,880 it then becomes a lot easier to realistically develop self-discipline. 541 00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:30,280 It’s just about setting yourself up for success rather than continually 542 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:33,080 butting your head against a wall that you cannot identify. 543 00:26:33,080 --> 00:26:35,280 Self-discipline, 544 00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:35,960 it’s been said, 545 00:26:35,960 --> 00:26:40,040 is choosing between what you want now and what you want most. 546 00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:42,200 There is always an opportunity cost, 547 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:42,920 but in truth, 548 00:26:42,920 --> 00:26:47,360 the opportunities you are foregoing by acting disciplined aren’t very 549 00:26:47,360 --> 00:26:49,120 large—comfort, 550 00:26:49,120 --> 00:26:50,040 security, 551 00:26:50,040 --> 00:26:51,000 safety, 552 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:52,240 television, 553 00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:53,080 gaming, 554 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:54,400 junk food, 555 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:55,280 and so on. 556 00:26:55,280 --> 00:26:58,640 Pushing ourselves through our fears, 557 00:26:58,640 --> 00:26:59,720 limitations, 558 00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:03,000 and bad habits takes energy and is uncomfortable, 559 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:08,320 but is mere discomfort what you will allow to keep you from what you want most? 560 00:27:08,320 --> 00:27:11,280 Takeaways - 561 00:27:11,280 --> 00:27:15,640 •When we label ourselves or others as lazy, 562 00:27:15,640 --> 00:27:17,920 are we really doing ourselves justice, 563 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:21,400 or is there more to that simple and overused term? 564 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:27,000 What can we learn about simple laziness to defeat it and perhaps set ourselves 565 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:27,840 up for success? 566 00:27:27,840 --> 00:27:34,400 •Laziness is not so much of a cause as it is a symptom of emotional or 567 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:37,760 organizational issues that are present within our mindsets. 568 00:27:37,760 --> 00:27:42,440 It’s helpful to view these shortcomings as a series of cause-and-effect 569 00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:42,960 actions, 570 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:48,040 because the reasons that we are not acting and not exercising self-discipline 571 00:27:48,040 --> 00:27:50,720 are more complex than you might realize. 572 00:27:50,720 --> 00:27:52,480 We’re not lazy; 573 00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:57,080 we have many psychological barriers that keep us firmly rooted in place. 574 00:27:57,080 --> 00:27:58,760 Take it easy on yourself, 575 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:02,680 because nothing is as simple as “I don’t want to do it, 576 00:28:02,680 --> 00:28:03,400 so I won’t!" 577 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:09,760 •The main causes for so-called laziness include fear of judgment and negative 578 00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:10,040 emotion, 579 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:13,400 fixed mindsets that make action feel useless, 580 00:28:13,400 --> 00:28:17,360 organizational issues that keep you confused and spiraling, 581 00:28:17,360 --> 00:28:20,680 and physical or mental deficiencies such as sleep, 582 00:28:20,680 --> 00:28:21,440 rest, 583 00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:22,480 nutrition, 584 00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:23,360 illness, 585 00:28:23,360 --> 00:28:24,920 and lack of alignment. 586 00:28:24,920 --> 00:28:28,040 It’s not so much that we need to cure these issues, 587 00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:31,320 because that is a tall task without dedicated introspection, 588 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:36,080 but if we are more aware of what drives us to act (or not), 589 00:28:36,080 --> 00:28:39,800 then we stand a chance of addressing it on a consistent basis. 590 00:28:39,800 --> 00:28:43,360 You may never truly overcome all of those issues, 591 00:28:43,360 --> 00:28:44,880 but for our purposes, 592 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:47,080 breaking inertia is the goal. 593 00:28:47,080 --> 00:28:49,440 •In the end, 594 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:51,400 whether we are being “lazy” or not, 595 00:28:51,400 --> 00:28:55,960 we are putting what we want at the current moment over what we want the most. 596 00:28:55,960 --> 00:29:00,920 We are getting distracted by shiny objects and temporary moments of 597 00:29:00,920 --> 00:29:01,720 gratification. 598 00:29:01,720 --> 00:29:02,680 And yet, 599 00:29:02,680 --> 00:29:07,520 what are we prioritizing at the current moment besides comfort and safety? 600 00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:12,680 Are those powerful enough motivators for you to stand between what you want the 601 00:29:12,680 --> 00:29:13,160 most? 602 00:29:13,160 --> 00:29:15,480 That’s a rhetorical question, 603 00:29:15,480 --> 00:29:16,080 by the way. 604 00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:20,280 This has been 605 00:29:20,280 --> 00:29:22,000 Practical Self-Discipline: 606 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:28,640 Become a Relentless Goal-Achieving and Temptation-Busting Machine (A Guide for Procrastinators, 607 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:29,560 Slackers, 608 00:29:29,560 --> 00:29:46,040 and Couch Potatoes) (Live a Disciplined Life Book 5) By Peter Hollins, narrated by russell newton.