Procrastination is the all-too-familiar foe of productivity, but why do some wait until the last minute to even get a project started? It also comes down to evolution of the human brain. The frontal lobe is the behavior and –planning controlling part of the brain that also regulates the distribution of dopamine. However, it’s also the most recently-evolved section of the brain – meaning it’s occasionally overridden by baser, more primal desires. So overcoming this age-old cognitive fallback to achieve long-term goals takes a fair amount of energy. Breaking up longer-term goals is the best way to do this – breaking it down into steps and rewarding oneself along the way. It makes a daunting task seem less intimidating, and it helps manage time, effort and energy, rather than putting it off.