Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator | Tim Urban | TED

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Published 2016-04-06

Tim Urban knows that procrastination doesn't make sense, but he's never been able to shake his habit of waiting until the last minute to get things done. In this hilarious and insightful talk, Urban takes us on a journey through YouTube binges, Wikipedia rabbit holes and bouts of staring out the window -- and encourages us to think harder about what we're really procrastinating on, before we run out of time.

For more from Tim Urban, visit Wait But Why: www.waitbutwhy.com/

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All Comments (21)

@nprpodcasts 1 year ago

Enjoying this talk? You'll love the brand new TED Radio Hour series – Mind, Body, Spirit. Hear TED speakers share their eye-opening ideas on how we think, move, and feel. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2TjQf2riraLkqqFGxK65JI-leCAxm1eD
@samruddhik2 4 years ago

Morning : I study better in the evening Evening : I study better in the morning
@ninjabotxl7315 3 years ago

Plot twist: the reason the drawings look so bad is that he was making this ted talk right before he was on stage.
@Riptide09 6 months ago

It's been 4 years that I've kept this video on my "watch later" list, today is the day I'll finally watch it.
@user-ve3iu1oz4m 6 months ago

I like how he makes it a presentation that could be explained to a 5 year old, but is so profound at the same time.
@virginiaayala6175 3 years ago

When you procrastinate by watching this video but make it worse by reading every single comment
@ttongx9352 3 years ago

When procrastinators are in panic mode, they have unparrelled energy and temporarily the most productive person in the world.
@kaitlincullis8029 21 days ago

A big tip I can pay forward to fellow procrastinators: the first step I always do is promise myself I WILL NOT work on whatever my task is that day and ONLY do all preparation for it without actually starting work. This means I get everything I need ready, opening up tabs that I need to get the job done and planning out exactly what needs to be done to get it finished. Usually when I have it all laid out in front of me like that suddenly the task looks very small and manageable - and i then owe it to myself to complete on the task. This trick alone eliminates about 70% of my procrastination times. Kudos to Michael Kennedy's Success Method for this "mind trick" which works for me at least, I am working on the other mind hacks /gamifying to get my doctorate finished up
@traderyogen8675 3 months ago

YouTube recommended this 5 years ago and I marked it on watch later list ...after 5 years I'm watching this masterpiece.....
@chrysoula5226 5 years ago

all us procrastinators reading other procrastinators comments feeling like at least we are not ruining our lives alone lol
@kate_singing 3 years ago

if this pops up in ur recommended, youtube is trying to tell u something
@unitybhatt1346 1 month ago

He used a number of characters to convey some amazing and crucial information; he is a true genius.
@tocraneandcrane 2 months ago

I'm here because I've procrastinated for weeks (okay, months), have a deadline in the morning, have barely started, totally freaking out, and so I'm turning to this guy for inspiration lmao
@ericu4093 3 years ago

I'm asking myself, how many people are watching this video, procrastinating, and not finishing their school project?
@youssef_rashed 4 years ago

I think my monkey is not scared of the panic monster anymore.
@SuperAxat 4 months ago

what a storyteller. the characters, narrative and the lesson were beautifully delivered.
@nayan8989 1 month ago

Tim Urban is damn right on this. I am a procrastinator and I knew it in 2019, but I was very good in my employment so I did neglected it. But rest areas of my life is incomplete because they haven't any deadline. This is the right moment to start a simple step toward my ultimate goal.
@iccaruuss 3 years ago

Real procrastinator adds a tonne of YouTube videos to “save to watch later” and never end up watching them
@binirl8761 4 years ago

me: "I must stop procrastinating" also me: watches this instead of doing hw
@nandynandhini 4 months ago

This is probably the most lightest, breeziest TED talks I've ever seen! Only Tim Urban can deliver a concept so complex in such light and hearty nature. 😃