Workflow
Procrastination
icon
Search documents
Killing procrastination | Maksim Schwing | TEDxCranleigh Abu Dhabi
TEDx Talks· 2025-09-04 15:12
[Applause] My name is Maxim and allow me to tell you a story. Picture this. 3,000 words and only 3 hours to write it.The essay was due 6 weeks before the deadline. Plenty of time. So naturally, I spent those six weeks doing only writing.I wish I did. I actually spent those six weeks doing everything but writing. For instance, I watched so many YouTube videos. Pretty sure I got a world record for most YouTube videos ever watched.At home, my brain said I couldn't possibly focus unless my room was tidy. So, I ...
Hope for the Procrastinator | Angela Joy | TEDxFolsom High School Youth
TEDx Talks· 2025-08-29 15:23
[Music] It's late. Maybe it's midnight. Maybe it's 10:00 p.m. You have stacks of work piling up, whether it's homework or paperwork. Right as you're about to start, you tell yourself, "Just 5 minutes of scrolling. Then I'll get back to work. A small break will help me focus better.5 minutes turn to 10, 10 to 30, and soon it's been an hour since your small break started. You find yourself scrolling endlessly to videos that definitely aren't helping you. Stopping now it feels almost impossible.The little voic ...
Tomorrow Never Comes. | Cherry Chen | TEDxLeadways School
TEDx Talks· 2025-08-29 15:21
As a perfectionist, procrastinator, and worst of all, a student, I have spent my entire life repeating this one phrase. I'll do it tomorrow. After all, with tomorrow comes more energy, more time, more motivation.Tomorrow, I'll finally be ready. And then the alarm clock rings and I wake right back up tired and rushed and still terrified. And I take one look at my work and I think, I know I said this yesterday, but I think I'll do that tomorrow.I've lived my life with parents that have high expectations. Slav ...
Unlocking the Flow of Studying: the Flow State | Kareena Sarkar | TEDxYouth@CanadianAcademy
TEDx Talks· 2025-08-07 15:14
Core Concept - The flow state is a state of consciousness where effort feels effortless, characterized by deep involvement in an activity where nothing else seems to matter [1] - Achieving the flow state can enhance focus, motivation, and mood by releasing neurochemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins [1] Barriers to Flow - Procrastination, overwhelming tasks, distractions, and fear of failure are identified as major obstacles to concentration and effective studying [1] - Constant notifications and the endless stream of content can lead to distractions, hindering concentration [1] Strategies to Unlock Flow - Eliminating distractions, such as turning off phones and creating organized study spaces, is crucial for achieving flow [1] - Setting clear, specific, and finite goals helps maintain focus and provides a sense of control [1] - Finding the "sweet spot" where tasks are challenging but achievable is essential; tasks that are too easy lead to boredom, while those too difficult lead to frustration [1] - The Pomodoro Technique, involving focused work sessions of 25 minutes followed by 5-minute breaks, can help maintain focus and prevent burnout [1] Practical Application - Implementing focused study techniques, such as eliminating distractions and using the Pomodoro Technique, can improve grades and reduce stress [2] - Prioritizing key concepts and high-yield topics, following the 80/20 rule (80% of learning comes from 20% of the material), can enhance learning efficiency [3]
The Procrastination Paradox | Mira Salah | TEDxSunmarkeSchool
TEDx Talks· 2025-07-28 16:58
Problem Definition - Procrastination is a cycle of delay, excuses, pressure, and panic, not laziness [3][4] - 86% of teenagers procrastinate on assignments, and 92% of college students procrastinate on studying for exams [1] Root Causes of Procrastination - Perfectionism: Fear of not doing tasks well enough leads to avoidance [8][9][10] - Lack of Motivation: Without a clear purpose, tasks feel unbearable, leading to avoidance [11][12][13][14][15] - Anxiety and Overwhelming Tasks: Large tasks trigger the amygdala, leading to fight, flight, or freeze responses [15][16][17] Solutions to Reduce Procrastination - Embrace progress over perfection, setting realistic expectations [18][19] - Break tasks into smaller, manageable steps to activate the brain's reward system [20][21] - Find your "why" to create personal drive and motivation [22][23] - Use the 5-4-3-2-1 method to start tasks immediately [24] - Procrastination is a mind thing, not a time thing [25]
Unlocking the Flow of Studying: the Flow State | Kareena Sarkar | TEDxYouth@CanadianAcademy
TEDx Talks· 2025-07-16 15:54
Core Argument - The presentation focuses on unlocking a "flow state" to improve studying efficiency and enjoyment [2][3] - It identifies four key obstacles to concentration, termed "demons of studying": procrastination, feeling overwhelmed, distractions, and pressure [3][4][5][6] - Overcoming these obstacles involves achieving a flow state, characterized by effortless effort, heightened focus, and improved cognitive performance [7][8] Strategies for Achieving Flow State - Minimizing distractions, such as phones, is crucial for initiating flow [9][10] - Setting clear, finite goals helps maintain focus and provides a sense of control [11] - Finding the "sweet spot" – a balance between challenge and achievability – is essential [12] - Time management techniques, like the Pomodoro Technique (25 minutes work, 5 minutes break), can help maintain focus and prevent burnout [13][14] - Establishing a pre-flow ritual can help initiate the flow state more quickly [14] Understanding the Flow Cycle - The flow cycle involves an initial struggle, followed by dopamine release, leading to a breakthrough into the flow state [15] - Consistent practice is key to mastering the ability to unlock the flow state on command [15] Practical Application and Benefits - Implementing focus techniques can transform study habits, improve grades, reduce stress, and free up time for other activities [16] - Addressing common excuses, such as tiredness or lack of time, is important for success [17][18][19] - The 80/20 rule suggests focusing on key concepts for efficient learning [18] - Starting small and building momentum is a helpful approach [19]
Checkmating productivity | Japneet Talwar | TEDxWestbourne Grammar Youth
TEDx Talks· 2025-07-15 16:27
Productivity Improvement - The report addresses productivity challenges, such as procrastination, that hinder goal achievement [2][4][6] - It introduces a chess-inspired strategy to enhance productivity by setting daily goals [3][4] - The strategy involves three key questions: Checks (immediate actions), Captures (skill acquisition), and Threats (future planning) [10][11][14] Chess-Inspired Strategy - Chess is used as an analogy for life, emphasizing the need for planning and strategic thinking [3][9] - Procrastination is likened to a "blunder" in chess, caused by prioritizing immediate gratification [5][6] - The "gratifier" is personified as a force that steals time and hinders productivity [6][7] - Overcoming procrastination involves recognizing and resisting the urge for instant gratification [8][15] Practical Application and Results - The effectiveness of the strategy was tested during exams, resulting in improved grades [4][13][14] - The report encourages readers to apply the "checks, captures, and threats" framework to their own goals [14][15]
Stuck In The Loop Of Later | Michelle Nongoh | TEDxJewels Leading Lights Youth
TEDx Talks· 2025-07-09 15:25
Core Argument - Procrastination is not laziness, but avoidance of discomfort and stress associated with tasks [10] - Overcoming procrastination involves starting small, letting go of perfection, and associating productivity with pleasure [12][13][14] Practical Strategies - Begin with minimal effort, such as two minutes of work or writing one sentence, to overcome initial resistance [12] - Use distractions as rewards, allowing access to favorite shows or social media only after completing a set amount of work, like 30 minutes [13] - Focus on progress over perfection, recognizing that "80% done is better than 0% perfect" [12] Psychological Insights - The brain avoids difficult tasks due to discomfort, seeking easier alternatives [11] - The brain dislikes unfinished tasks, creating a desire to continue once started [13] - Procrastination delays personal greatness, emphasizing the importance of starting [14]
Conquering the Art of Procrastination (From a Procrastinator) | Pooya Golestan | TEDxUBC
TEDx Talks· 2025-07-03 15:19
Core Argument - Procrastination is defined as the willful avoidance of tasks one knows they need to do, primarily a problem of getting started [4][5] - Procrastination is a defense mechanism against negative emotions like fear of failure and anxiety [5][6] - Instant gratification, fueled by dopamine release from activities like phone scrolling, increases baseline dopamine levels, making it harder to focus on less stimulating tasks [11][12][13][14] Practical Strategies - Delete apps from phones to reduce instant gratification and make the phone less appealing, limiting usage to 30-45 minutes per day [17][18] - The 5-minute rule involves committing to a task for only 5 minutes to overcome the initial hurdle of starting [20][21] - The 2-minute rule encourages immediate completion of tasks that take less than 2 minutes to avoid mental burden [23][24] - The Pomodoro Technique uses 30-minute work intervals followed by 5-minute breaks to leverage the recency and primacy effect for better focus [26][27] Productivity and Mindset - Achieving a flow state requires limiting distractions to enter a state of focused concentration [29][30] - Discipline, not motivation, is key to success; consistent action is more important than fleeting feelings of motivation [32][33][34]
Roots of Growth: The Power of Consistency | Aurel Chatterjee | TEDxYouth@FHS
TEDx Talks· 2025-06-23 16:20
Core Argument - Consistent actions, rather than striving for perfection, lead to lasting growth and success [1] - Consistency is defined as the ability to keep showing up and put in effort even when immediate results aren't obvious [1] Obstacles to Consistency - Fear of failure prevents individuals from prioritizing growth due to the fear of not being good at something initially or being judged [5][6] - Avoiding difficulty, stemming from the desire to avoid uncomfortable experiences, hinders consistency as individuals opt for immediate gratification over long-term benefits [7][8][9] - The pursuit of perfection can lead to neglecting consistent effort, with individuals becoming obsessed with visible results and forgetting that improvement takes time [10] Strategies for Improvement - Recognizing and addressing procrastination is crucial, as small changes can lead to massive results [1][3] - Making small, consistent efforts, such as a 10-minute walk, can be more effective than attempting drastic changes immediately [3] - Being mindful of fears and taking chances are essential for pushing forward and growing skills [13]