Procrastination: Understanding the Monkey in Your Brain

Who introduced the concept of the Rational Decision-Maker and the Instant Gratification Monkey?

• Tim Urban

• Albert Einstein

• Sigmund Freud

• Stephen Hawking

Answer explanation

Tim Urban introduced the concepts of the Rational Decision-Maker and the Instant Gratification Monkey in his popular blog 'Wait But Why', where he explores procrastination and decision-making.

What does the Rational Decision-Maker focus on?

• Immediate pleasure

• Long-term decisions

• Short-term gains

• Distractions

Answer explanation

The Rational Decision-Maker prioritizes long-term decisions, focusing on outcomes that provide sustained benefits rather than immediate pleasure, short-term gains, or distractions.

Match the following attitudes with their descriptions.

• Attitude of preparing for the present

• It lives in it

• Attitude of being afraid of the present

• It plans for it

• Attitude of being fully present

• It fears it.

• Attitude of ignoring the present moment

• It disregards it

What does the Instant Gratification Monkey disregard?

• Immediate pleasure

• The present moment

• Long-term consequences

• Fun activities.

Answer explanation

The Instant Gratification Monkey prioritizes immediate pleasure and fun activities, but it disregards long-term consequences, leading to poor decision-making and procrastination.

What is the 'Dark Playground' according to Tim Urban?

• A place for productive work

• A place where leisure activities happen when they are not supposed to

• A place for relaxation

• A place for social gatherings

Answer explanation

The 'Dark Playground' refers to a state where leisure activities occur at inappropriate times, leading to procrastination and guilt, rather than being productive. Thus, the correct choice is that it is a place where leisure activities happen when they are not supposed to.

Who is the only character that the Instant Gratification Monkey fears?

• The Rational Decision-Maker

• The Panic Monster

• The Deadline

• The Task Manager

Answer explanation

The Panic Monster is the only character that the Instant Gratification Monkey fears. It represents the urgency and fear of consequences that can motivate action, unlike the other options which do not instill the same level of fear.

Which type of procrastination can be more detrimental due to a lack of progress?

• Short-term procrastination

• Long-term procrastination

• Immediate procrastination

• Temporary procrastination

Answer explanation

Long-term procrastination is more detrimental because it leads to significant delays in progress, causing stress and missed opportunities over time, unlike short-term or temporary procrastination which may have less impact.

What should you do to set clear goals and deadlines?

• Break down tasks into smaller steps

• Avoid deadlines

• Set unrealistic goals

• Ignore tasks

Answer explanation

To set clear goals and deadlines, break down tasks into smaller steps. This approach makes goals more manageable and helps track progress effectively, unlike avoiding deadlines or setting unrealistic goals.

How can you create a productive environment?

• Increase distractions

• Minimize distractions and create a workspace that promotes focus

• Work in a noisy place

• Avoid routines

Answer explanation

To create a productive environment, it's essential to minimize distractions and design a workspace that enhances focus. This approach fosters concentration and efficiency, unlike increasing distractions or avoiding routines.

What is the role of the Rational Decision-Maker in the context of procrastination?

• To encourage leisure activities

• To clash with the Instant Gratification Monkey

• To avoid deadlines

• To promote distractions

Answer explanation

The Rational Decision-Maker's role is to counter the Instant Gratification Monkey, which seeks immediate pleasure and leads to procrastination. By clashing with this impulse, the Rational Decision-Maker helps prioritize long-term goals.