Your laziness explained using financial theory [Frameworks]

PICTURED: Most readers’ mental plan when faced with this article

This article proposes a unique theory (I think) of procrastination based on concepts borrowed from finance.

The primary concept being borrowed is that of rate of growth of capital. And the associated discounting of future cash-flows that serves as its corollary.

To do or not to do?

Suppose there is a reward associated with a goal G — R(G).

Rewards tend to have an associated effort. This effort can be quantified as a discrete a series of tasks (let’s refer to sum of tasks as T) that need to be performed. Each T will have a degree of difficulty DD(T)

Together the concepts of R(G) & DD(T) can tell you whether or not an individual will determine if a goal is worth achieving. For example,

a. We are likely to not attempt a goal if R(G) is low AND DD(T) is too high. On the other hand,

b. Goals with a high R(G) & low DD(T) tend to become priorities

However, this common-sensical explanation doesn’t explain why many of us procrastinate.

Procrastination does not imply that we believe the returns R(G) are not worth the effort required. Instead, we very much think the relationship between R(G) & DD(T) is worth pursuing — but we keep pushing…