Cost Benefit Analysis in Procrastination and Binge Working

Yesterday I made excuses that I could not write often because my to-do-list is so long. In fact, it may be the long to-do-list that made me stress. So the question is how do I overcome it?

Thank God that a friend of mine shared this article. It reminds me that we procrastinate or working continuously because it makes sense. In other word, we do a cost-benefit-analysis and decide that procrastinate or keep working on something too much is the best alternative.

For example, we procrastinate because the cost is too high and benefit is too low. We put high expectations on doing something that the cost of doing it seems to be enormous especially if we fail to meet those expectations. Or we procrastinate because we already forget the benefits. This happens to me many times. When something new comes up, I take it on because of the excitement. But soon, that benefit is forgotten and I no longer have the motivation to do anymore. So in this case, I need to recall that benefit and if it is actually more beneficial, then it makes sense not to procrastinate.

This also happens when I binge on working. I overestimate the benefits over the cost. I forget that if I continue working on something till perfection, there are other things that will be sacrificed. For example, because of working on something, others can only be done on last minute as if there is no cost if we lose it because something more beneficial (like those urgent staff) comes up in the last minute.

So there is no need to be angry when I procrastinate or binge working. What I need is to check whether I value the benefit and cost wrongly. Recall what is the real benefit and the real cost and then follow up accordingly.