War on Procrastination: Taming the Monkey in Your Brain

Tim Urban explains that typical students efficiently allocate their time when performing tasks. Even if they start slowly in the first week after a task is assigned, they consistently work, handling more as the deadline approaches, and systematically completing the task.

However, Tim Urban confesses that his approach to tasks was the exact opposite of a typical student's. He says that when a task was assigned, he would do nothing until the deadline was imminent, eventually repeating a pattern of cramming all the work at the very last minute.

Urban elaborates on his procrastination habit using his experience writing a 90-page graduation thesis as an example. He initially made a rational plan for the thesis, which was to take a year. He planned to start lightly, speed up in the middle, and focus on finishing at the end. However, this plan was not followed at all in reality, and he had to revise the plan multiple times during the thesis writing process.

Urban recalls the extreme situation where he hadn't written a single word until only three days were left until the graduation thesis deadline. Ultimately, he had to complete the 90-page thesis by working non-stop for 72 hours. This experience made him realize the seriousness of his procrastination habit and suggested that there was a structural problem beyond mere laziness.

Tim Urban explains that the brain structure of a procrastinator is different from that of others. While everyone's brain has a 'Rational Decision-Maker,' a procrastinator's brain also has an 'Instant Gratification Monkey.' He points out that this monkey is the main cause of procrastination.

Urban says that when the 'Instant Gratification Monkey' takes the wheel, it postpones important tasks suggested by the rational decision-maker and pursues immediate fun. For example, it might browse Wikipedia pages about the Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding scandal instead of writing a thesis. This shows the monkey's characteristic of easily getting distracted by immediate interesting things rather than important tasks.

Tim Urban explains that the 'Instant Gratification Monkey' lives only in the present moment. The monkey has no memory of the past or knowledge of the future, caring only about two things: what is easy and what is fun. Therefore, when the monkey takes control, it becomes engrossed in activities that provide immediate satisfaction rather than important long-term goals, leading to procrastination.

Our brain also has another entity called the 'Rational Decision-Maker,' and Tim Urban says that this entity, unlike animals, has the ability to dream of the future, see the big picture, and make long-term plans. In modern society, the role of this rational decision-maker is very important and is essential for controlling the monkey's impulses that seek momentary satisfaction, and for planning and executing meaningful actions for the future. We must use this ability to overcome procrastination and achieve long-term goals.