From the article by Tim Urban

Question

Inside the mind of the master procrastination

Answer the following question in a 7th graders response. Answer each question in 3 sentences.
1. Why do you think people procrastinate? Explain your answer.
2. What trouble can procrastination get you in? Give a specific example along with your answer.
3. Have you ever found yourself thinking the same way as the "instant gratification monkey" from the video? If so, give an example.
4. What causes "the panic monster" to step in? Have you ever had a time where you were overwhelmed due to procrastination?
5. Do you think procrastination is a choice? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

1. People procrastinate because they often feel overwhelmed by tasks or fear that they won't do them well. Instead of starting something difficult, they choose to do something more fun or easier, which can feel better in the moment. Sometimes, they just want to avoid the stress of getting things done until the last minute.

2. Procrastination can lead to serious trouble, especially when deadlines are approaching. For example, if a student waits until the night before a big project is due to start working on it, they might rush and not do their best work. This could result in a bad grade, which can affect their overall performance in school.

3. Yes, I have found myself thinking like the "instant gratification monkey" sometimes. For instance, I might choose to play video games instead of studying for an upcoming test because I feel like having fun is more exciting. Even though I know studying is important, I often want immediate enjoyment rather than worrying about the future consequences.

4. The "panic monster" steps in when a deadline is really close, and there's no more time to procrastinate. I remember a time when I had a big book report due, and I waited until two nights before to start it. I felt completely overwhelmed because I had to read the book and write a paper all in such a short time.

5. I think procrastination is a choice, but it's also a habit that can be hard to break. People can choose to start their work early, but sometimes they let distractions take over instead. It’s like a tug-of-war between wanting to relax now and needing to worry about what will happen later if they don’t get things done.