✳flâneur — a map of the web's best reading

When Procrastination is Productive - Scott H Young

scotthyoung.com · 1,359 words · saved by 2 readers

I recently had an email exchange with a reader who, in his words, claimed to struggle with a lack of commitment. He wanted to study machine learning, but he couldn’t get past the first few modules of the course he’s taking. After a few emails back and forth, however, I discovered the reason he “wasn’t able to commit” was simply that his full-time job and family responsibilities kept getting in the way. I don’t think this reader’s problem was a lack of commitment. When genuinely more important things interfere with side projects, procrastinating on the side project is the correct thing to do! His problem isn’t a lack of commitment; rather, it’s a failure of logistics, difficulty organizing whatever leftover time was available to make some progress on his goal. There’s a myth in self-improvement circles that everyone ought to be able to achieve any goal. Any failure to do so is seen as a lack of willpower, motivation or “commitment.” Not only is this profoundly untrue, but the mindset it

I recently had an email exchange with a reader who, in his words, claimed to struggle with a lack of commitment. He wanted to study machine learning, but he couldn’t get past the first few modules of the course he’s taking. After a few emails back and forth, however, I discovered the reason he “wasn’t able to commit” was simply that his full-time job and family responsibilities kept getting in the way. I don’t think this reader’s problem was a lack of commitment. When genuinely more important things interfere with side projects, procrastinating on the side project is the correct thing to

Explore this link on the map →

saved by

related reading