Well, from reading the comments it seems the most popular type of akrasia that hinders this group is procrastination. I’m sure other weaknesses of will are common, but procrastination seems to be an overwhelmingly common nuisance. This paper http://www.uni-konstanz.de/FuF/SozWiss/fg-psy/gollwitzer/PUBLICATIONS/McCreaetal.PsychSci09.pdf might hint at why this is so. The gist is that the more abstract the tasks/projects/goals are, the more you will procrastinate. As the tasks become more concrete, the procrastination is eliminated. An example is the abstract concept of ‘write that essay’ vs. ‘pick up pen & paper and begin mind-mapping’ or whatever.
It is probably fair to assume that most people here are more abstract thinkers compared with the average population and thus might be extra sensitive to procrastination.
‘cleaning my room’ is still abstract. If you decompose that into ‘pick up clothes off floor, then make my bed, then vacuum the carpet, …..’, then those are concrete tasks.
You can decompose all those things into smaller steps too.
You cannot determine whether a task is concrete or abstract without considering the person’s perception of the task. Making the bed or picking up clothes can be an abstract task for some. I consider cleaning my room a pretty concrete task (same with washing the dishes, another task I procrastinate about) so the theory can’t explain my procrastination.
I actually watched that sometime between my previous post and your reply. And, it works! I always thought I should focus on making the processes of cleaning my room more fun (e.g., playing music or talking to friend). Turns out I am better off if I just focus on the good feeling I get from the end product.
Well, from reading the comments it seems the most popular type of akrasia that hinders this group is procrastination. I’m sure other weaknesses of will are common, but procrastination seems to be an overwhelmingly common nuisance. This paper http://www.uni-konstanz.de/FuF/SozWiss/fg-psy/gollwitzer/PUBLICATIONS/McCreaetal.PsychSci09.pdf might hint at why this is so. The gist is that the more abstract the tasks/projects/goals are, the more you will procrastinate. As the tasks become more concrete, the procrastination is eliminated. An example is the abstract concept of ‘write that essay’ vs. ‘pick up pen & paper and begin mind-mapping’ or whatever.
It is probably fair to assume that most people here are more abstract thinkers compared with the average population and thus might be extra sensitive to procrastination.
What about the concrete task of cleaning my room which I always procrastinate about.
‘cleaning my room’ is still abstract. If you decompose that into ‘pick up clothes off floor, then make my bed, then vacuum the carpet, …..’, then those are concrete tasks.
You can decompose all those things into smaller steps too.
You cannot determine whether a task is concrete or abstract without considering the person’s perception of the task. Making the bed or picking up clothes can be an abstract task for some. I consider cleaning my room a pretty concrete task (same with washing the dishes, another task I procrastinate about) so the theory can’t explain my procrastination.
Try P.J. Eby’s pull motivation video—should work for this kind of tasks.
http://thinkingthingsdone.com/2008/07/thoughts-into-action.html
I actually watched that sometime between my previous post and your reply. And, it works! I always thought I should focus on making the processes of cleaning my room more fun (e.g., playing music or talking to friend). Turns out I am better off if I just focus on the good feeling I get from the end product.