Pete and Roy walk into a brain
Being a professional writer has a few perks, like knowing when “i” comes before “e” and eavesdropping on strangers’ conversations in the name of “research.” But being a writer does not, unfortunately, come with a cure for procrastination. Our inner 15-year-old still puts things off, just like we did with that term paper in 10th grade. And every time we wait too long, we feel tremendous guilt for being lazy. Then we wonder what’s wrong with us — why we can’t just be a grown-up who gets things done.
The answer? Brain science. Let me explain.
It turns out that procrastination happens when two different parts of the human brain are in conflict. Here are the players in this never-ending struggle:
Prefrontal Pete is a smart guy. He lives in the prefrontal cortex area of the brain, right behind the forehead. Pete’s neighborhood is awesome because it’s the most developed part of the brain. Pete wears glasses and a blazer with elbow patches. He’s polite, flosses his teeth every day, and he started a 401(k) the second he got the chance. Pete is a planner, and he’s willing to work toward future rewards. If you need help with a big project, Pete is your guy.
Reptile Roy is Pete’s older brother. Roy lives in the brain’s limbic system, which is located above the brainstem. He’s a survivor with great instincts. In a fight-or-flight situation, Roy knows what to do. He has your back in a crisis. But Roy is also a chain-smoker who gets bored easily, never reads instructions and always has dessert before vegetables. He has strong, impulsive feelings and is skilled at persuading Pete to do things his way.
Any time we humans have important work to do, Pete and Roy go along for the ride. They’re a package deal. Because Roy is older, he rides shotgun and makes Pete sit in the backseat. When Roy senses that the project is long and complicated, he starts suggesting detours that sound easier than what Pete had planned. Meanwhile, Pete barely has a chance to do all the nerdy things he’s great at doing. That’s the brain science behind procrastination.
But now that we know who we’re dealing with, maybe a workaround is possible. I read a great article by author Jari Roomer about how to use the basics of neuroscience to reduce procrastination. Here are a few tips on how to “give Pete a chance.”
Feed Pete. Specifically, Pete likes nuggets. Divide your big, important project into smaller, nugget-sized tasks that feel more doable. If the next step makes you feel a sense of “ugh,” that’s a clue that you need smaller nuggets. Don’t overwhelm Pete with a big slab of meat because Roy will sense his intimidation and step in to demand an Oreo cookie and two hours of pointless social media.
Pete first. Roy later. There are a limited number of hours in the day, and Pete works best when the day is young. Cue up your most important project first because Pete will wilt as the day goes on. Roy is the one who calls the shots when the sun goes down. (This is why our mothers want us home by midnight.)
No sleep? No Pete. Studies show that sleep deprivation leads to cognitive impairment. When you don’t sleep enough, Pete is too tired to say no to his impulsive older brother. And a sluggish Roy is terrible, too, since fatigue can slow down reaction time when it matters most.
Protect Pete. How? Declutter your workspace. Pete wants to get down to business, but Roy has a habit of looking over his shoulder to see what’s going on. And if Roy spots something easier or more fun to do, he’ll grab the wheel and steer all of us straight into the do-nothing ditch.
It’s not easy to play referee to two brain brothers who want different things. But we survived junior high school, so I’m pretty sure we can navigate these waters, too. Reduce the strain by hacking your brain.
Gwen Rockwood is a syndicated freelance columnist. Email her at gwenrockwood5@gmail.com. Her book is available on Amazon.
