[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.64,0:00:02.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So in college,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:03.35,0:00:04.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was a government major,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:04.94,0:00:07.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which means I had to write\Na lot of papers.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:07.42,0:00:09.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, when a normal student writes a paper,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.50,0:00:11.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they might spread the work out\Na little like this.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.89,0:00:13.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, you know --
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.07,0:00:14.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.75,0:00:16.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you get started maybe a little slowly,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.60,0:00:18.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but you get enough done in the first week
Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.59,0:00:20.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that, with some heavier days later on,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.45,0:00:22.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,everything gets done, things stay civil.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.63,0:00:23.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.85,0:00:26.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I would want to do that like that.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.15,0:00:27.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That would be the plan.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.37,0:00:29.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would have it all ready to go,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.88,0:00:32.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but then, actually, the paper\Nwould come along,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.40,0:00:34.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then I would kind of do this.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.36,0:00:36.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.76,0:00:38.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that would happen every single paper.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.64,0:00:43.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But then came my 90-page senior thesis,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.54,0:00:45.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a paper you're supposed\Nto spend a year on.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.86,0:00:49.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I knew for a paper like that,\Nmy normal work flow was not an option.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.50,0:00:50.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was way too big a project.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.92,0:00:52.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I planned things out,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.10,0:00:55.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I decided I kind of had\Nto go something like this.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.78,0:00:57.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is how the year would go.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.26,0:00:59.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I'd start off light,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.25,0:01:01.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I'd bump it up in the middle months,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.59,0:01:04.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then at the end,\NI would kick it up into high gear
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.24,0:01:05.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just like a little staircase.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.70,0:01:07.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How hard could it be\Nto walk up the stairs?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.23,0:01:09.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No big deal, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.09,0:01:12.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But then, the funniest thing happened.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.92,0:01:14.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Those first few months?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:14.79,0:01:15.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They came and went,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.98,0:01:17.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I couldn't quite do stuff.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.59,0:01:19.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we had an awesome new revised plan.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.46,0:01:20.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.66,0:01:21.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then --
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.84,0:01:23.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.74,0:01:26.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But then those middle months\Nactually went by,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.55,0:01:28.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I didn't really write words,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.76,0:01:30.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so we were here.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.50,0:01:34.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then two months turned into one month,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.10,0:01:35.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which turned into two weeks.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.75,0:01:37.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And one day I woke up
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.72,0:01:40.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with three days until the deadline,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.50,0:01:43.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,still not having written a word,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.46,0:01:45.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so I did the only thing I could:
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.54,0:01:48.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I wrote 90 pages over 72 hours,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.17,0:01:50.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,pulling not one but two all-nighters --
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.47,0:01:53.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,humans are not supposed to pull\Ntwo all-nighters --
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.37,0:01:56.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sprinted across campus,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.39,0:01:57.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,dove in slow motion,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.90,0:01:59.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and got it in just at the deadline.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.98,0:02:02.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I thought that was the end of everything.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.03,0:02:03.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But a week later I get a call,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.61,0:02:05.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it's the school.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.76,0:02:07.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they say, "Is this Tim Urban?"
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.42,0:02:08.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I say, "Yeah."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.91,0:02:11.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they say, "We need\Nto talk about your thesis."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.28,0:02:12.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I say, "OK."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.47,0:02:14.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they say,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.23,0:02:17.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"It's the best one we've ever seen."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.15,0:02:18.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.01,0:02:22.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.94,0:02:26.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That did not happen.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.27,0:02:28.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.43,0:02:31.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was a very, very bad thesis.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.08,0:02:33.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.38,0:02:37.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I just wanted to enjoy that one moment\Nwhen all of you thought,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.50,0:02:39.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"This guy is amazing!"
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.43,0:02:40.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.80,0:02:42.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No, no, it was very, very bad.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.34,0:02:46.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Anyway, today I'm a writer-blogger guy.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.78,0:02:48.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I write the blog Wait But Why.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.54,0:02:52.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And a couple of years ago,\NI decided to write about procrastination.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.30,0:02:55.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My behavior has always perplexed\Nthe non-procrastinators around me,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.61,0:02:59.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I wanted to explain\Nto the non-procrastinators of the world
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.32,0:03:01.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what goes on in the heads\Nof procrastinators,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.45,0:03:02.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and why we are the way we are.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.92,0:03:04.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, I had a hypothesis
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.10,0:03:06.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the brains of procrastinators\Nwere actually different
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.98,0:03:08.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than the brains of other people.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.70,0:03:11.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And to test this, I found an MRI lab
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.91,0:03:14.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that actually let me scan both my brain
Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.37,0:03:17.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the brain of a proven\Nnon-procrastinator,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.05,0:03:18.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so I could compare them.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.51,0:03:20.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I actually brought them here\Nto show you today.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.73,0:03:24.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want you to take a look carefully\Nto see if you can notice a difference.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.29,0:03:26.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know that if you're not\Na trained brain expert,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.63,0:03:28.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's not that obvious,\Nbut just take a look, OK?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.92,0:03:31.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So here's the brain\Nof a non-procrastinator.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.84,0:03:34.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.13,0:03:35.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now ...
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.32,0:03:37.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,here's my brain.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.28,0:03:41.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.71,0:03:45.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is a difference.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.90,0:03:48.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Both brains have a Rational\NDecision-Maker in them,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.32,0:03:49.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but the procrastinator's brain
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.99,0:03:52.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,also has an Instant Gratification Monkey.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.00,0:03:55.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, what does this mean\Nfor the procrastinator?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.33,0:03:57.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, it means everything's fine\Nuntil this happens.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.79,0:04:00.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[This is a perfect time\Nto get some work done.] [Nope!]
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.44,0:04:03.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the Rational Decision-Maker\Nwill make the rational decision
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.40,0:04:05.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to do something productive,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.32,0:04:07.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but the Monkey doesn't like that plan,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.29,0:04:08.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so he actually takes the wheel,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.82,0:04:11.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he says, "Actually, let's read\Nthe entire Wikipedia page
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.73,0:04:13.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the Nancy Kerrigan/\NTonya Harding scandal,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.89,0:04:16.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because I just remembered\Nthat that happened.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.04,0:04:17.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.08,0:04:18.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then --
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.26,0:04:19.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.55,0:04:21.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then we're going to go over to the fridge,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.61,0:04:24.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to see if there's anything new\Nin there since 10 minutes ago.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.50,0:04:27.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After that, we're going to go\Non a YouTube spiral
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.16,0:04:30.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that starts with videos\Nof Richard Feynman talking about magnets
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.44,0:04:33.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and ends much, much later\Nwith us watching interviews
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.18,0:04:35.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with Justin Bieber's mom.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.08,0:04:37.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.30,0:04:39.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"All of that's going to take a while,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.08,0:04:42.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so we're not going to really have room\Non the schedule for any work today.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.61,0:04:43.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sorry!"
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.80,0:04:44.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Sigh)
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.32,0:04:49.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, what is going on here?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.48,0:04:54.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Instant Gratification Monkey\Ndoes not seem like a guy
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.20,0:04:55.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you want behind the wheel.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:55.47,0:04:57.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He lives entirely in the present moment.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.44,0:05:00.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He has no memory of the past,\Nno knowledge of the future,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.30,0:05:01.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he only cares about two things:
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.02,0:05:03.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,easy and fun.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.34,0:05:07.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, in the animal world, that works fine.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:07.45,0:05:08.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you're a dog
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.69,0:05:12.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you spend your whole life doing\Nnothing other than easy and fun things,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:12.28,0:05:13.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you're a huge success!
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.47,0:05:15.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.40,0:05:16.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And to the Monkey,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.97,0:05:20.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,humans are just another animal species.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.09,0:05:24.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You have to keep well-slept, well-fed\Nand propagating into the next generation,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.62,0:05:26.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which in tribal times\Nmight have worked OK.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:26.93,0:05:29.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, if you haven't noticed,\Nnow we're not in tribal times.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:29.80,0:05:33.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're in an advanced civilization,\Nand the Monkey does not know what that is.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:33.96,0:05:36.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Which is why we have\Nanother guy in our brain,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:36.26,0:05:38.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Rational Decision-Maker,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.65,0:05:41.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who gives us the ability to do things\Nno other animal can do.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.70,0:05:43.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can visualize the future.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.65,0:05:45.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can see the big picture.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:45.42,0:05:46.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can make long-term plans.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.80,0:05:49.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And he wants to take\Nall of that into account.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.14,0:05:51.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And he wants to just have us do
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.85,0:05:54.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whatever makes sense\Nto be doing right now.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:54.82,0:05:56.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, sometimes it makes sense
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.24,0:05:58.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be doing things that are easy and fun,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.29,0:06:00.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like when you're having dinner\Nor going to bed
Dialogue: 0,0:06:00.47,0:06:02.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or enjoying well-earned leisure time.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.32,0:06:03.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's why there's an overlap.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.79,0:06:05.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sometimes they agree.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.56,0:06:08.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But other times, it makes much more sense
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.41,0:06:12.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be doing things that are harder\Nand less pleasant,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:12.03,0:06:13.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for the sake of the big picture.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.60,0:06:15.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's when we have a conflict.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.02,0:06:17.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And for the procrastinator,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:17.36,0:06:19.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that conflict tends to end\Na certain way every time,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.89,0:06:23.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,leaving him spending a lot of time\Nin this orange zone,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:23.63,0:06:27.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an easy and fun place that's entirely\Nout of the Makes Sense circle.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:27.98,0:06:30.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I call it the Dark Playground.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:30.29,0:06:31.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:06:31.94,0:06:35.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, the Dark Playground is a place
Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.09,0:06:38.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that all of you procrastinators\Nout there know very well.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:38.89,0:06:40.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's where leisure activities happen
Dialogue: 0,0:06:40.72,0:06:44.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at times when leisure activities\Nare not supposed to be happening.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.42,0:06:46.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The fun you have in the Dark Playground
Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.33,0:06:48.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,isn't actually fun,\Nbecause it's completely unearned,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.84,0:06:52.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the air is filled with guilt,\Ndread, anxiety, self-hatred --
Dialogue: 0,0:06:52.08,0:06:54.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all of those good procrastinator feelings.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:54.70,0:06:58.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the question is, in this situation,\Nwith the Monkey behind the wheel,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.20,0:07:01.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how does the procrastinator ever get\Nhimself over here to this blue zone,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.82,0:07:05.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a less pleasant place, but where\Nreally important things happen?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.12,0:07:10.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, turns out the procrastinator\Nhas a guardian angel,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:10.19,0:07:13.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,someone who's always looking\Ndown on him and watching over him
Dialogue: 0,0:07:13.42,0:07:14.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in his darkest moments --
Dialogue: 0,0:07:14.87,0:07:16.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,someone called the Panic Monster.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.99,0:07:20.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:22.39,0:07:27.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, the Panic Monster\Nis dormant most of the time,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.27,0:07:31.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but he suddenly wakes up\Nanytime a deadline gets too close
Dialogue: 0,0:07:31.20,0:07:33.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or there's danger of public embarrassment,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:33.26,0:07:35.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a career disaster or some other\Nscary consequence.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:35.80,0:07:39.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And importantly, he's the only thing\Nthe Monkey is terrified of.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:39.100,0:07:44.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, he became very relevant\Nin my life pretty recently,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:44.60,0:07:47.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because the people of TED\Nreached out to me about six months ago
Dialogue: 0,0:07:47.87,0:07:49.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and invited me to do a TED Talk.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:49.91,0:07:52.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:55.06,0:07:56.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, of course, I said yes.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:56.99,0:08:00.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's always been a dream of mine\Nto have done a TED Talk in the past.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.82,0:08:04.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:04.81,0:08:08.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:12.20,0:08:14.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But in the middle of all this excitement,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:14.20,0:08:17.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Rational Decision-Maker seemed\Nto have something else on his mind.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:17.52,0:08:20.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was saying, "Are we clear\Non what we just accepted?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:20.09,0:08:23.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Do we get what's going to be now\Nhappening one day in the future?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:23.37,0:08:25.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We need to sit down\Nand work on this right now."
Dialogue: 0,0:08:25.66,0:08:28.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the Monkey said, "Totally agree,\Nbut let's just open Google Earth
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.95,0:08:32.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and zoom in to the bottom of India,\Nlike 200 feet above the ground,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:32.13,0:08:35.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and scroll up for two and a half hours\Ntil we get to the top of the country,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:35.78,0:08:37.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so we can get a better feel for India."
Dialogue: 0,0:08:37.78,0:08:42.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:43.15,0:08:44.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So that's what we did that day.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:44.66,0:08:47.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:48.60,0:08:52.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As six months turned into four\Nand then two and then one,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:52.52,0:08:55.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the people of TED decided\Nto release the speakers.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:55.64,0:08:58.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I opened up the website,\Nand there was my face
Dialogue: 0,0:08:58.28,0:08:59.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,staring right back at me.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:59.66,0:09:01.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And guess who woke up?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:01.28,0:09:04.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:09:05.43,0:09:07.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the Panic Monster\Nstarts losing his mind,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.90,0:09:10.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a few seconds later,\Nthe whole system's in mayhem.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:10.67,0:09:13.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:09:15.51,0:09:18.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the Monkey -- remember,\Nhe's terrified of the Panic Monster --
Dialogue: 0,0:09:18.64,0:09:19.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,boom, he's up the tree!
Dialogue: 0,0:09:19.82,0:09:20.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And finally,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:20.99,0:09:23.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,finally, the Rational Decision-Maker\Ncan take the wheel
Dialogue: 0,0:09:23.61,0:09:25.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I can start working on the talk.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:25.36,0:09:27.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, the Panic Monster explains
Dialogue: 0,0:09:27.67,0:09:31.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all kinds of pretty insane\Nprocrastinator behavior,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:31.17,0:09:33.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like how someone like me\Ncould spend two weeks
Dialogue: 0,0:09:33.53,0:09:37.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,unable to start the opening\Nsentence of a paper,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:37.40,0:09:40.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then miraculously find\Nthe unbelievable work ethic
Dialogue: 0,0:09:40.19,0:09:43.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to stay up all night\Nand write eight pages.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:44.38,0:09:47.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this entire situation,\Nwith the three characters --
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.39,0:09:49.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this is the procrastinator's system.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:50.10,0:09:53.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's not pretty, but in the end, it works.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:53.54,0:09:57.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is what I decided to write about\Non the blog a couple of years ago.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:57.63,0:10:00.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I did, I was amazed by the response.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:00.63,0:10:02.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Literally thousands of emails came in,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:02.80,0:10:05.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from all different kinds of people\Nfrom all over the world,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:05.60,0:10:07.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,doing all different kinds of things.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:07.37,0:10:10.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These are people who were nurses,\Nbankers, painters, engineers
Dialogue: 0,0:10:10.36,0:10:12.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and lots and lots of PhD students.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:12.70,0:10:14.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:10:14.73,0:10:17.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they were all writing,\Nsaying the same thing:
Dialogue: 0,0:10:17.04,0:10:18.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"I have this problem too."
Dialogue: 0,0:10:19.02,0:10:22.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what struck me was the contrast\Nbetween the light tone of the post
Dialogue: 0,0:10:22.87,0:10:24.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the heaviness of these emails.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:24.99,0:10:28.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These people were writing\Nwith intense frustration
Dialogue: 0,0:10:28.09,0:10:30.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about what procrastination\Nhad done to their lives,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:30.88,0:10:32.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about what this Monkey had done to them.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:34.90,0:10:37.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I thought about this, and I said,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:37.89,0:10:41.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,well, if the procrastinator's system\Nworks, then what's going on?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:41.03,0:10:43.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why are all of these people\Nin such a dark place?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:43.54,0:10:46.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, it turns out that there's\Ntwo kinds of procrastination.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:47.99,0:10:50.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Everything I've talked about today,\Nthe examples I've given,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.84,0:10:51.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they all have deadlines.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:52.02,0:10:53.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when there's deadlines,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.34,0:10:56.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the effects of procrastination\Nare contained to the short term
Dialogue: 0,0:10:56.29,0:10:58.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because the Panic Monster gets involved.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:58.23,0:11:00.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But there's a second kind\Nof procrastination
Dialogue: 0,0:11:00.31,0:11:02.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that happens in situations\Nwhen there is no deadline.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:02.82,0:11:05.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So if you wanted a career\Nwhere you're a self-starter --
Dialogue: 0,0:11:05.53,0:11:07.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,something in the arts,\Nsomething entrepreneurial --
Dialogue: 0,0:11:07.97,0:11:11.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there's no deadlines on those things\Nat first, because nothing's happening,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:11.52,0:11:13.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not until you've gone out\Nand done the hard work
Dialogue: 0,0:11:13.78,0:11:15.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to get momentum, get things going.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:15.44,0:11:18.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's also all kinds of important things\Noutside of your career
Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.54,0:11:20.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that don't involve any deadlines,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:20.17,0:11:23.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like seeing your family or exercising\Nand taking care of your health,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:23.46,0:11:24.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,working on your relationship
Dialogue: 0,0:11:24.88,0:11:27.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or getting out of a relationship\Nthat isn't working.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:27.59,0:11:32.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now if the procrastinator's only mechanism\Nof doing these hard things
Dialogue: 0,0:11:32.76,0:11:34.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is the Panic Monster, that's a problem,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:34.67,0:11:37.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because in all of these\Nnon-deadline situations,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:37.49,0:11:39.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Panic Monster doesn't show up.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:39.14,0:11:40.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He has nothing to wake up for,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:40.62,0:11:43.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so the effects of procrastination,\Nthey're not contained;
Dialogue: 0,0:11:43.34,0:11:45.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they just extend outward forever.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:45.95,0:11:48.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's this long-term\Nkind of procrastination
Dialogue: 0,0:11:48.72,0:11:51.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's much less visible\Nand much less talked about
Dialogue: 0,0:11:51.82,0:11:54.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than the funnier, short-term\Ndeadline-based kind.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:54.75,0:11:57.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's usually suffered\Nquietly and privately.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:58.82,0:11:59.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it can be the source
Dialogue: 0,0:11:59.99,0:12:03.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of a huge amount of long-term\Nunhappiness, and regrets.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:04.58,0:12:07.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I thought, that's why\Nthose people are emailing,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:07.47,0:12:09.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that's why they're\Nin such a bad place.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:09.100,0:12:12.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's not that they're cramming\Nfor some project.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:12.77,0:12:16.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's that long-term procrastination\Nhas made them feel like a spectator,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:16.21,0:12:18.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at times, in their own lives.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:18.59,0:12:21.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The frustration is not\Nthat they couldn't achieve their dreams;
Dialogue: 0,0:12:21.60,0:12:24.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's that they weren't even\Nable to start chasing them.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:24.71,0:12:28.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I read these emails\Nand I had a little bit of an epiphany --
Dialogue: 0,0:12:30.18,0:12:33.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I don't think\Nnon-procrastinators exist.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:33.98,0:12:37.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's right -- I think all of you\Nare procrastinators.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:37.90,0:12:39.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, you might not all be a mess,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:39.84,0:12:41.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like some of us,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:41.21,0:12:42.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:12:42.76,0:12:46.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and some of you may have\Na healthy relationship with deadlines,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:46.10,0:12:48.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but remember: the Monkey's sneakiest trick
Dialogue: 0,0:12:48.65,0:12:50.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is when the deadlines aren't there.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:51.25,0:12:53.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, I want to show you one last thing.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:53.30,0:12:55.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I call this a Life Calendar.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:56.35,0:13:00.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's one box for every week\Nof a 90-year life.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:01.34,0:13:02.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's not that many boxes,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:02.96,0:13:05.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,especially since we've already\Nused a bunch of those.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:06.61,0:13:11.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I think we need to all take a long,\Nhard look at that calendar.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:12.98,0:13:15.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We need to think about what\Nwe're really procrastinating on,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:16.01,0:13:19.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because everyone is procrastinating\Non something in life.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:20.78,0:13:23.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We need to stay aware\Nof the Instant Gratification Monkey.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:25.46,0:13:27.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's a job for all of us.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:28.67,0:13:30.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And because there's not\Nthat many boxes on there,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:30.99,0:13:33.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's a job that should\Nprobably start today.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:33.31,0:13:36.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, maybe not today, but ...
Dialogue: 0,0:13:36.33,0:13:37.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:13:37.100,0:13:39.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:39.58,0:13:40.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sometime soon.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:41.39,0:13:42.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:42.63,0:13:50.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)