# 50. Self-delusion - the manipulation of self ## 50.5. Methodology/Refinements/Sub-species ### 50.5.7. Procrastination This is one of the most common forms of self-manipulation. We think we procrastinate because we are lazy and that we can't manage our time well. The reality is a bit more complicated. In terms of personal procrastination, we are really dealing with the internal conflict we have between our childish human predilection for pleasure and fun versus our "adult obligations" to utterly boring, uninteresting and unpleasant tasks. We tend to delay because we are sometimes weak in the face of this impulsive "child" within us. The real way to deal with procrastination is actually to learn how to manage this constant conflict between these two personalities and tendencies. This involves learning to think about how we actually think and then finding ways to manage the procrastinating "child". So, when we see signs of weakness we can, with practice, trick ourselves into behaving in an adult way, instead of just slipping into a constant round of guilt and more procrastination. It's not easy.