Guy Reams (00:01.262)
Today is day 214, when the Blue Jay procrastinates.
Guy Reams (00:08.366)
Have you ever found yourself inexplicably pulling weeds when a daunting task awaits? You're not alone. Welcome to the world of displacement activity. Today is the day I'm finally supposed to buckle down and clean the garage. For months it's slummed over me, growing mountain of clutter that we've let accumulate. I dread the archeological dig required to sift through the past year of my life, unearthing each piece one by one until it's finally cl -
There's just no easy way out. I can't simply hire someone to tackle it. I must sort through these misplaced discarded fragments of our lives and restore order. It's a daunting project, a giant sack of weights that have been dragging around with me for no reason. So naturally, as the day arrives where I have to clean the garage, I find myself overwhelmed with the urge to engage in any other activity, which is this behavior, by the way, is called displacement activity.
This morning, as I sat in our backyard contemplating the strategy for organizing the garage, I found myself eagerly looking for distractions. I took the dogs out to play, which just seemed very crucial at the time. But I soon found myself pulling weeds, a task suddenly imbued with great importance. As I wandered pulling out the occasional weed, I noticed that my dogs got really quiet, their bodies tensed, channeling their ancient hunting instincts.
by a smallest dog even raised his front paw poised to pounce. Following their intense gaze, I spotted a small Blue Jay at the edge of the lawn, about ten feet away. The bird, seemingly aware of its audience, began to peck at the ground in a theatrical display, finding no worms or anything, just plucking at random spots as if teasing the suddenly tense canines. It suddenly occurred to me that the Blue Jay was mirroring my exact actions, engaging in displacement actions.
Under stress and uncertain whether to flee or remain, the bird distracted itself from making the stressful decision by repeatedly plucking at the ground. In a similar manner, I was displacing my own daunting task by pulling weeds, avoiding the garage cleaners. Just like the Blue Jay, I was temporarily easing my stress, sidestepping the greater challenge of tackling the garage, or in the bird's case, escaping the potential threat of the dogs. Both of us faced a critical decision.
Guy Reams (02:36.558)
If we don't make a decision, then these displacement activities can lead to procrastination, which might have disastrous consequences. Eventually, the Blue Jay decided to fly away, and inspired by its choice, I called the dogs in from playtime and headed toward the garage. Ironically, as I passed through the laundry room, I noticed some towels that needed washing. I almost fell for another trap. I nearly chose this new displacement activity. It's telling how desperate I am to avoid cleaning the garage.
that I would actually consider doing laundry instead. However, I resisted the temptation and proceeded into the garage. I only surfaced from my archaeological dig today to grab some lens and jot down the article and narrate this video. Maybe I should do my taxes next. Huh, no, back to the garage it is. Psychologists suggest that displacement activities act as a buffer against immediate stress.
By recognizing these patterns, we can consciously choose to confront rather than avoid daunting tasks. Next time you find yourself undertaking a trivial task instead of tackling a major one, remember the Blue Jay and me. Pause, laugh at the absurdity, and channel the energies back to where they're most needed. After all, every moment spent in avoidance is a moment that prolongs the stress of the unfinished.