CURSE YOU PROCRASTINATION!!!

"We all need mirrors to remind ourselves who we are, I'm no different."
-quote from the best movie in the world.

I think everyone has times where they look at the mirror and ask themselves, "Who am I really?" This may come with a sudden epiphany, realizing the man or woman we could become. As humans we tend to get random surges of inspiration and motivation, a flood of goals and self improvement go through our head and we feel invincible. Then a couple days, or maybe even just minutes later we forget about all those things until the next surge.

Here's a common situation,
"I'm going to do [insert goal here] tomorrow!"
The next day: press snooze, decide you can do it another day.

Psychology Today lists 3 different types of procrastinators:

• Arousal types, or thrill-seekers, who wait to the last minute for the euphoric rush.
• Avoiders, who may be avoiding fear of failure or even fear of success, but in either case are very concerned with what others think of them; they would rather have others think they lack effort than ability.
• Decisional procrastinators, who cannot make a decision. Not making a decision absolves procrastinators of responsibility for the outcome of events.

Now back to me:

Procrastination is something you acquire, not something you are born with. Studies showed that strict parenting often shapes future procrastinators because they are unable to regulate their own thinking and grow up not able to manage time efficiently. Or procrastination could be a sign of rebellion, the freedom of finally able to do things on your own terms leads you to self-sabotage.

With procrastination we often rationalize our retarded thinking. "Well, tomorrow I'll be more rested and will feel like doing it more." But that usually doesn't happen. Or we will convince ourselves its not a big deal. Comforting our mind into being ok with our laziness. Reminds me of a certain serpent saying, "you positively will not die..." technically that statement was true but skewed. Each day has it's own anxieties so we shouldn't shoot ourself in the foot and load the next day with even more pressure.

Procrastination and depression have similar traits, telling a chronic procrastinator to just schedule better is like telling a depressed individual to cheer up. It's something we have to overcome by disciplining ourselves. There are many times when I take a moment and think of all the things I need to do or could do to get stuff done or be a better me, and in theory it seems completely do-able but it is super hard to follow through sometimes.

With the availability of limitless time-wasters it's even harder to not put off things. One technique that helps is to set a 15 minute timer and then when it goes off, look at the things you accomplished, then reset it and repeat. Looking at your progress will make you feel like you are getting stuff done and will inspire you to be even more efficient. Discouragement is crippling so doing whatever I can to stay focused and see results helps me alot. Like working out, if you don't see or feel results, you'll give up. But if you track and see even just little accomplishments, you'll be motivated to continue. 

There are times I think, when we are able to see our full potential. So take a good look and then start jogging in that direction. When you sprint towards it after sudden inspiration you might get some stuff done, but you'll burn out. But slow and steady improvements seem to be the way to go, so thank you Mr. Turtle. 

I struggle with procrastination more than most probably, and I only write this because it encourages me to take my own advice. 

The Molested Tootsie Pop

That's what I decided to call my drink. I went to Sonic today and ordered a rootbeer with a "shot" of orange, grape, cherry and chocolate. I still don't know if I like it.

My roommate was asking me the other day if I hate how easy girls are to get. I asked him what he meant and he said that all you have to do is know how to say the right things and they don't have a chance. I then proceeded the look at him blankly. Then he said "girls are so dumb." He is a 24 year old toddler. He complains that girls are either easy or just play hard-to-get. (my roommate has never had a girlfriend) It really annoys me when people are sexist in a real way. What I mean by "real" is, they actually think they are smarter then the opposite gender.

I think fake sexism, ect is hilarious in some instances. But never if it is remotely serious. Like when a girl posts a picture of herself on a beach and you say, "wow, thats a fancy kitchen." I approve of that comedy gold haha.

My roommate talked about either playing the brooding quiet guy which he labeled me as that, or the charismatic, funny, douche type guy. He said that's all you have to do and girls fall for you. I said "au contraire", my opinion is that if you genuinely are or if you play "the quiet guy", girls are falling in love with the idea of you, I mean if your so quiet how do they know who you are? They might assume you're deep and mysterious but maybe you just never know what to say. Or the other type, the louder, confident one, they fall in love with who you could be, if you focused just an ounce of what you do on yourself on her, then you would be a great guy to be with. Plus confidence and security sometimes go hand in hand.

Marriage was originally made so you can have a partner that can help you out. At the end of they day, no matter how bad or stressful it was, you'll always have that support. Someone to laugh about how crappy things are or when things are good, to enjoy the beautiful little things in life. Do you think Eve played hard to get? Fate and Destiny aren't real, unless your counting some strippers in vegas, even then, that's not their real name. Movies, songs and books have corrupted us so much and it's skewed our view of love. G** D*** you Nicholas Sparks, G** D*** you to H***. (hahaha i crack myself up.)

To me the bottom line is friendship, thats who you want to be married to. I hate that I'm shallow like most people, I really do. But on the other hand, maybe the ugliest girl is the nicest girl because she is the ugliest girl. If that same girl was born retardly (and by retardly I mean extremely. "well why didn't you just say extremely, cody?" I don't know, maybe I wanted to make sure that if I said it outloud in front of you someday you wouldn't mis understand what I was trying to say.) retardly beautiful, she would have been treated differently and been shaped into a different person.

Until the new system even the best of us will be shallow to a certain degree. Which isn't a big deal, because you literally have forever to pick a partner that will compliment you. You can make almost any relationship work if you try really hard. It's like trying to use a fork to eat ice-cream, yeah sure it works and it still tastes good, (you disgust me, get your mind out of the freaking gutter.) but a spoon would be better. And to that I close with the words I currently live my life by... There is no spoon.

our little generation of sadness

NOTE: The following view expressed reflect solely the opinion of one individual. 

And logic, and science.

My friend and I were discussing dopamine the other day and the effects on the world around us. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain's reward and pleasure centers. Dopamine also helps regulate movement and emotional responses, and it enables us not only to see rewards, but to take action to move toward them. People with a deficiency of dopamine can eventually develop Parkinson's, or if Dopamine isn't in your system, it results in schizophrenia. Which schizophrenia can be reclusive tendencies, social anxiety, and blunted emotions; not just A Beautiful Mind type stuff. 


For the first time, things are so easily accessible that nearly everyone in America is addicted to Dopamine. Social Networks, Pornography, Advertisements, Food, Coffee are all tailored to spike your pleasure receptors, leading to basically instant addiction. Not that there's anything wrong with most of those...haha... but like any other addiction you are trading an overall balanced state of mind for constant highs and lows. 


Constantly checking your facebook for likes and comments on your posts like a crack addict is making people sad. Constantly people are complaining, looking for sympathy, or fishing for compliments (I'm no different) and because its detached, people are much more likely to not filter themselves. What happened to the good ol' days when people bottled that crap up?? haha jk. but really though. 


Another added catch involved in the availability of information is that you will get so many goals, aspirations, dreams, ideas, what have you, that there is no humanly possible way to accomplish all of them. (in this world) Meaning whatever you do accomplish will have only a super short burst of happiness because you will move on to the next thing. Guess the best advice we already know, keep your eye simple, don't worry about what we will eat, drink, wear, each day has it's own anxieties...blah blah blah... *bolt of lightning hits me*.


That all being said... if people can actually accomplish these goals in a methodical, practical, balanced way it can make you happier. And, having access to friends and loved ones is super beneficial and convenient. 


P.S.


To those people who constantly "like" those dumb photos that some 13 year old girl wrote, that don't even make sense: 

you make me want to punch a baby. Not really... but pretty close. No.. if you distance yourself from people, that will alienate them and make them stay away. 


Oh yeah I forgot Jesus said, "I'll draw away from you, so you draw close to me..."
(bazinga)

why i'm blogging.

To avoid the pretentiously long facebook posts that I'm tempted to write, I decided to make something that people can willingly decide to expose themselves to. This is kind of a journal, mostly for my benefit. An outlet of things that I can post and then later regret, like all those poems you wrote in highschool. Just kidding, this isn't a place for me to mope or complain, its more like a mommy portal so my friends and family can keep tabs on me. (tabs that I can make up! mauhahaha) I have a problem with changing my mind alot, so I figured if I write my ideas/goals down it will help me to stick to them better. I'll probably share things I find interesting or thought provoking. Heck I may even start an advice column for teenage relationships. (bazinga)