Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive Function
No one has been spared from the strong impulse to put things off for later. You might find yourself cleaning out the refrigerator when you should really be working on your taxes. Dilly-dallying and lallygagging are a few ways one’s aversion for impending tasks manifests itself. In the Netflix series, The Kominsky Method, Alan Arkin’s character loses his wife of nearly 50 years to cancer and at the funeral, his daughter who never visits her ailing mother during her illness shows up. The upset father asks why and to which she replies, “Because I was busy”. When pressed further, the daughter blurts out, “Because I didn’t think she’ll die.” In this case, the daughter’s procrastination went too far.
On this episode, our guest, Tim Pychyl, Ph.D., professor of psychology, award-winning teacher, successful author, and prolific podcaster, will talk about why we procrastinate. Since the hallmark of executive dysfunction is inefficiency, poor task management, and lack of goal achievement, this conversation will add a critical perspective to methods of supporting individuals with Executive Function.
About Tim Pychyl, Ph.D.
Dr. Tim Pychyl is the Director of the Centre for Initiatives in Education and Associate Professor of Psychology at Carleton University, Ottawa. Tim has developed an international reputation for his research on procrastination. In addition to journal articles summarizing his research with his students, Tim has co-edited two books, the most recent of which is Procrastination, Health and Well-Being (2016, Elsevier). He is also author of Solving the Procrastination Puzzle: A Concise Guide to Strategies for Change (2013, Tarcher/Penguin). You can learn more about his research and access his Psychology Today blog or his iProcrastinate podcast at procrastination.ca.
Tim’s research is complemented by his passion for teaching for which he has won numerous awards including the 3M National Teaching Fellowship, Ontario Confederation of University Associations Teaching Award and University Medal for Distinguished Teaching. Tim has been an invited speaker across the country working with professors in universities and colleges to enhance teaching and learning.
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Books
About Host, Sucheta Kamath
Sucheta Kamath, is an award-winning speech-language pathologist, a TEDx speaker, a celebrated community leader, and the founder and CEO of ExQ®. As an EdTech entrepreneur, Sucheta has designed ExQ's personalized digital learning curriculum/tool that empowers middle and high school students to develop self-awareness and strategic thinking skills through the mastery of Executive Function and social-emotional competence.