Waiting Mode: Paralysis, Procrastination, and the Great Millennial Standoff
Ever had your whole day ruined by the dread of a dentist appointment, a brunch plan, or a package delivery window? Welcome to “waiting mode”—that anxiety paralysis where you can’t do anything until the next thing is over. In this episode, Peter and Shaun spiral through the utterly relatable mental chaos of looming commitments, from why a simple phone call or dinner plan destroys productivity, to the existential terror of prepping for a 6 AM flight or tracking a DoorDash order like a security camera.
We unpack the “Sims theory,” microwave drama, flaccid fries, and the truth about why millennials (and let’s be honest, everyone alive right now) have learned to dread the in-between. Spoiler: It might be regional anxiety, ADHD, industrialized time, or just the human condition—either way, you’re not alone if the mere prospect of “having plans” has left you immobile.
With games (“Productive or Paralysis?”), questionably scientific advice, and permission to admit that yes, checking your phone in anticipation for five straight hours really is a universal rite of passage. Embrace your mess with us.
Transcript
Sean, are you okay?
2
:You've been staring at that
avocado for 20 minutes.
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:It's turning brown.
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:I can't move.
5
:I'm paralyzed.
6
:Why is this apocalypse actually happening?
7
:Did we miss the memo worse?
8
:I have a dentist appointment.
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:Oh God.
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:When 4:00 PM Sean, it's 10:00 AM.
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:You have six hours.
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:We could have recorded three episodes.
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:We could have gone to brunch.
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:Speaker 2: Brunch.
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:Are you insane?
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:No.
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:I'm officially in waiting mode.
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:The day is canceled.
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:I am now just a vessel waiting
for 4:00 PM Do not perceive me.
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:I am simply waiting for the end.
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:Speaker: I'm about to spiral.
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:Speaker 3: Apocalypse and avocados.
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:Peter: Hey, chaos crew.
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:Welcome back to Apocalypse and Avocados.
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:It's Peter and I'm joined by Sean.
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:Hello.
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:And today we're talking about
the phenomenon of waiting mode.
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:So I'm guilty of this.
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:I know everyone's guilty of this.
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:So my first example of
this is just like a memory.
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:Here.
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:I have a million things to do.
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:I have a million things to do
today, tomorrow, everything
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:just preparing for life.
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:But most of all, I have a psychiatry
appointment that's coming up,
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:and it was at five o'clock today.
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:I woke up this morning and I was just
like, oh, okay, so I have an appointment.
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:So mentally I was blocked, like nothing.
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:I couldn't get anything done.
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:I couldn't focus, I was just
focused on the appointment and
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:it just stunted everything.
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:Have you experienced
something like that, Sean?
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:Shaun: I have a surprise meeting tomorrow
morning and I already can't get anything
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:done today because I'm thinking about it.
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:The dread is just building,
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:Peter: so mentally you're
stunted completely.
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:Okay, so since Sean is currently
non-functional, for a stranger
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:in six hours while that sounds
insane this is the waiting mode.
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:It's the paralyzing anxiety
that turns us into useless blobs
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:before any scheduled event.
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:So let's go into the dread here.
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:So for those of you don't know waiting
mode is something we all go through.
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:It's not just time management, it's
the complete inability to start
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:tasks big or small because a future
commitment is looming over your head.
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:So I don't know.
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:There's so many versions of this.
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:I know sexual things come into play here.
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:Like when you're sitting down and
you're trying to get something
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:done, and all you can think about
is maybe I should just go jerk off.
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:Maybe I should go jerk off.
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:I thought about it and
I think I should do it.
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:And then you just focused on that and
you just, you can't focus on doing
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:any of your work until you do that.
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:You have to get the task out of you.
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:How about you, Sean?
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:Shaun: I know that was a little overshare.
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:That sounds like my daily life.
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:Yeah.
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:I feel like for me it's more of that
like sense of dread of having something
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:that isn't part of my normal schedule.
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:Where I feel that my whole entire
day is thrown off because of it.
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:Peter: Yeah, if you're thinking
about food shopping too.
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:Yeah, that's a good one.
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:Or what am I gonna eat for dinner?
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:You just ate fucking breakfast.
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:Shaun: Or if you have to go get gas
on the way to do something else,
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:that's I know that's not quite as
much 'cause you're not waiting,
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:but that gives me the same feeling.
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:Peter: But it is it's just like
that because you remember how much
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:gas subconsciously, you remember
how much gas is in your car and you
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:know, you have to do something later.
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:So you're like stuck in waiting mode,
waiting 'cause you're like, oh, I need to
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:get gas, I need to go grocery shopping.
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:I have to pick up a card for so-and-so's
birthday, whatever it may be.
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:But you're focused on
that fucking gas tank.
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:That doesn't matter right now.
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:Yeah, absolutely.
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:So everyone's guilty of doing this.
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:Food comes to mind.
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:Doing laundry.
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:Having to pick up a friend or know that
there's a commitment with a friend.
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:Shaun: Oh, I have a good one.
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:When I used to work in retail,
I used to get this all the time.
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:If I had an evening shift or a midday
shift, I just felt like my entire day
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:was gone because I had work later in
the day rather than taking advantage
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:of the fact that I had the morning off.
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:Peter: Yeah, you're stuck in that,
so you're stuck in the thought
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:that, oh shit, I have to go to work,
so I can't do anything right now.
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:I can't do anything right now because
it'll just be a waste of time and I'm
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:gonna exert so much energy and I'm
gonna be tired after fucking working.
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:Does this sound like anybody?
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:It sound, it sounds very relevant to me.
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:Shaun: Sounds like everybody, I know
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:Peter: everyone's guilty of doing
this at one point or another.
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:I'm sure all of you can think back to
a time when this has happened to you.
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:Whether it be sexual or
just random life events.
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:And you, it also happens
with like birthdays.
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:Especially birthdays.
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:'cause you're like, oh, so-and-so's
birthday is next week at Friday at 5:00
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:PM and I need to get them a present.
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:What are they gonna like?
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:What should I get them?
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:I only have until 5:00 PM next Friday.
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:It's fucking Monday.
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:It's Monday of the week
before you have to do it.
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:And it just like cripples
you for the rest of the week.
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:It's hard for you to focus.
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:Maybe I just have a DHD.
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:I don't know.
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:That sounds like for me, but at
least now we can have a diagnosis.
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:It is waiting mode.
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:And Sean, what was the least significant
thing that you could think of that's
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:caused you the most paralysis?
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:Shaun: like just.
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:Regular plans with someone like, oh, I
made plans to go to brunch, or I made
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:plans to go get coffee at a specific time.
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:And honestly, I just feel like
I can't do anything before that.
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:Like nothing can be done.
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:I have to wait until it's that time.
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:Then go I got that the other day when
we were going to visit my family.
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:I was like, okay, we gotta visit my family
today, so I can't do anything right now.
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:And it's like, why?
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:Why can't I do anything before?
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:Peter: Why can't I eat?
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:Why can't I wash my ass?
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:Why can't I do anything?
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:I'm so confused.
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:Yeah.
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:It's a good thing that you bring
that up too, especially when you're
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:gonna hang out with your friends
or your friends are coming over.
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:And you're just, you're stuck
until you see them text.
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:I'm here or here.
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:Mm-hmm.
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:Whatever.
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:You're stuck.
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:You're like, you can't focus,
you can't do anything about it.
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:I have to wait for them to get here
before my life can continue for the day.
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:Shaun: You know what's crazy about it
is that when I get it, if I'm in that
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:situation where it's like I have to hang
out with somebody or not have to, but I'm
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:going to be hanging out with somebody.
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:I feel like I often can't
even get ready until.
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:My brain tells me it's close enough
to that time, and then often I'm
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:rushing around trying to get ready
fast enough or I'm not ready in on
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:time because I've just been paralyzed
in this waiting mode for so long.
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:Peter: Yeah, and then you're like
scurrying around and you can't find
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:anything and then that gets frustrating.
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:Because everything that you thought,
you knew where it was, isn't there?
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:And it's just, it's a
fucking pain in the ass.
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:I think this is something that
it's, we have to really figure out
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:what the fuck is going on here.
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:Shaun: Yeah.
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:And then you feel like the Grinch
trying on all your different clothes
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:and you decide you're just not going
'cause nothing looks good on you.
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:Peter: Yeah,
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:Shaun: that's right.
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:I'm not going.
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:Peter: Or maybe I'll go,
but I'll be casually lit.
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:Yeah, that's such a good movie.
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:But why do you think this happens?
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:To be honest, I think it might
be just that, I don't know the
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:feeling of getting interrupted.
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:Shaun: Yeah.
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:I think that is, that's a big part of it.
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:And I also feel like it's
a little bit of fomo.
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:Like you feel that if you
start doing something.
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:You're gonna miss out on something
else that you have the opportunity
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:to do in that time because you
know your time is limited and
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:you have, is it limited though?
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:You feel like it is because most of the
time it, the thing that's paralyzing
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:you is only a very small window of time.
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:Yeah.
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:It's like 30 minutes to
an hour a lot of the time.
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:Yeah.
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:Peter: Yeah, it's 30 minutes to an hour
and then you can't relax and you can't
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:do anything small just because, like you
said, you're anxious about the transition
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:into doing something else, and it just,
I don't understand why we have this.
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:Do we think that this is
just an American thing?
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:Do we think this is a global thing?
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:Shaun: I can't speak for people globally,
but I would imagine that this is a common.
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:Feeling around the world.
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:I feel like it wouldn't
necessarily be country specific.
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:But then again, different countries
have different like culture in
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:the sense of their daily life.
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:So maybe it's more of a relaxed feeling.
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:Maybe it's not oh my gosh, I have
this to do and my day is shot.
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:Peter: The reason that I bring it
up, and I think it might be country
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:specific, is because we feel like, or
maybe it's not even country specific, I
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:think that it might be region specific.
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:In our particular country, here in the
northeast, we have a very rapid pace
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:and we feel like we need to keep going
and when we stay sedentary for so long.
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:We are just like, okay, I'm
not getting anything done.
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:I'm not being productive.
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:This is not happening.
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:I need to do something.
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:I need to do something, whether brush
my teeth, fold some fucking laundry,
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:smoke a blunt, whatever you do, I
need to be doing something constantly.
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:And then you go down south in the
country or even to the Midwest,
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:and it's more of a relaxed pace.
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:So it might not be country specific,
but maybe it's just regional.
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:Shaun: And maybe there are other countries
who, or areas of other countries that
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:are similar to what it's like here in
the Northeast where it's very go go.
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:It's very business driven fast-paced and
maybe they have a lot of that as well.
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:Peter: Yeah.
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:I think that people need to get over
this, but there actually is a theory
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:about this, so everybody knows the sims.
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:Like the game.
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:Love the sims.
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:It's just like when they get
stuck in the sims, like somebody.
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:Puts down a bowl of spaghetti or a bowl of
cereal and then they can't walk around it.
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:Shaun: I was just gonna ask you,
are we talking about they get stuck
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:behind a piece of furniture or I
take the ladder out of the pool.
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:Peter: Oh my God.
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:You tortured your sims.
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:No, I'm talking about like when they're
all in the house or they have multiple
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:sims in the house and you put down,
you have to like cat shit in the cat
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:litter and then you can't step around
the litter box and then they start
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:crying and they piss themselves 'cause
they're in the middle of the floor.
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:Shaun: What about when someone puts
down their dirty plate and they like,
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:act like they can't walk around it?
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:Peter: Yeah.
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:Or they get frustrated with
it and they have to clean it.
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:At that point
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:Shaun: you're just screaming
at the plate there.
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:Peter: Yeah.
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:I can't even do AEM voice.
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:I know they don't like flop.
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:Yeah.
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:This is a thing though on stem.
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:So they think it's a theory that
your actions all have a cue.
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:Ah, and you can't do anything
until one action is canceled.
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:Shaun: Gotcha.
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:If I can't complete that action,
I just can't move on until
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:Peter: Yeah.
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:It's
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:Shaun: been canceled
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:Peter: until somebody either says, I'm not
coming, or My favorite commercial is on
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:at home, so I ain't gonna see you today.
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:Or you're like, oh, yeah we can change.
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:What's gonna be for dinner?
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:We have this, this, this in the house.
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:Now you can focus now.
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:Your entire day is fucked up though.
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:You're fucked up because in some carrots
that are moldy now in your fridge,
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:moldy, and it's it's absolutely stupid.
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:But yeah, this is the Sims theory.
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:Until you actually have that
event canceled, you can't continue
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:with the rest of your day.
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:You just stand there awkward awkwardly
in front of the fridge, awaiting
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:your next command, like a sim.
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:What about when
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:Shaun: they would be cooking and
the whole stove would catch on fire?
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:Freak out when they
were boiling spaghetti.
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:How did you catch the stove on fire
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:Peter: when you were boiling spaghetti.
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:I think Issa could do it.
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:Not that she's a bad cook or
anything, but I think she could do it.
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:I'm pretty sure she could burn ice.
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:Didn't she have the
incident with The pizza?
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:The pizza rolls.
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:Pizza rolls.
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:Yeah.
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:Yeah.
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:Pizza rolls.
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:That was back when we were young though.
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:She she was home by herself.
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:And she had just gotten back from
school and we only had like pizza
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:rolls for snacks in the fridge.
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:So she decided she was gonna make 'em,
she put 'em on the ceramic plate and threw
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:'em in the microwave, put in whatever
time, and she just left and came back.
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:She came back really
fast actually, nevermind.
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:But she had misread the time, so
it says 12 minutes in the microwave
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:and she had put them in for 21.
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:So my mother arrives back at the house
and all, she has these, like these
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:black clouds of smoke just billowing
out of the house because Carissa's now
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:managed to charcoal something in the
microwave and throws it in the sink.
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:, It was just a whole ordeal.
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:So I got back from school
'cause I was in, I think it was
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:in sixth grade at that point.
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:And.
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:Every single window in the house is open.
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:My mother is furious in
the freaking kitchen.
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:She's like, how did you fucking
put it in for 21 minutes?
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:21 minutes?
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:She goes, you don't even put anything
in the fucking microwave for 21 minutes.
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:Actually, little side note, spiral.
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:My mom used to work for with this woman
who used to cook everything in the
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:microwave, even her Thanksgiving, Turkey.
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:Oh my
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:Shaun: God.
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:Okay, so that reminds me of
season one of Flavor of Love.
301
:There was a challenge where they had
to cook a chicken for Flavor flas mom
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:and one of the contestants, I believe
her name was Sweetie, she was a mess.
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:She put the whole chicken in the micro,
like stuffed vegetables inside of it and
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:stuff, and then put it in the microwave
and press the chicken function and.
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:Literally served raw
chicken to his mother.
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:Peter: See, I don't watch this
reality tv, so I completely miss
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:this, but it is the same situation.
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:That woman used to cook everything
in the microwave, and I did not even
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:know that you could cook something
for five hours in the microwave.
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:Did you know that?
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:I did not.
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:Yeah.
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:She cooked an entire Thanksgiving
feast in her fucking microwave.
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:Why not use the oven?
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:Shaun: Yeah.
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:I wouldn't it like, I don't know.
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:I feel like when I cook things in
the microwave it they shrink up.
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:Peter: Yeah.
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:Like her brain, she was, you know how
like when they say you stand in front
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:of the microwave and you watch it,
it's gonna explode your brain cells.
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:We clearly learned different
things growing up, I guess.
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:So a pregnant woman shouldn't
stand in front of the manque.
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:Oh my God.
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:Why is it gonna cook the baby?
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:Maybe I have no fucking idea.
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:I feel like standing in front of
the stove would be more dangerous.
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:Yes, especially if you're frying
something, then it is just, I don't know.
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:I don't know how people do this,
but she got pissed because she was
329
:cooking the Thanksgiving dinner and
the microwave like broke down and
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:she had to go buy a new microwave.
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:Shaun: Maybe it broke down 'cause it
was sick of as, shit, don't cook a whole
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:fucking Thanksgiving feast in me bitch.
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:I am not
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:Peter: made for this.
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:I don't even know how she did that.
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:I, it's just, that's insane to me.
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:It was wild.
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:And then she didn't even know
what the little plastic thing
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:inside of the Turkey is for.
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:Like when you kick it.
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:Yes.
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:Shaun: So how does she know that she
had ever fully cooked the Turkey?
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:Peter: Guessing, I'm guessing She
put it in there and she's like, okay.
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:I don't know how people do this anyway.
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:20 pounds.
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:So it's an hour for each pound.
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:Shaun: Fuck that math.
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:I'm just gonna cook it into the
little thing pops, and then I'm
349
:gonna cut into it and make sure
it's cooked all the way through.
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:That
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:Peter: would be great if she
knew what the little thing was.
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:The little white thing.
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:But anyway back to this here.
354
:So yeah, sim theory.
355
:Have you ever done that though?
356
:Have you ever put down like a dish?
357
:Killed my sims.
358
:No, not killed them.
359
:Oh, you drowned them clearly.
360
:'cause you put them in the fucking
pool and then they fell asleep.
361
:Probably.
362
:I also used
363
:Shaun: to like lock them
in a room, in, in a room.
364
:Take away the door.
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:Peter: These are serial
killer tendencies, Sean.
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:We've watched shows where they lock
people into a room and take away the door.
367
:This is clearly built on your real life.
368
:Oh my God, you're crazy.
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:Yeah.
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:And then you ha these people are
I can't even, I don't even know
371
:where to come back from that.
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:Shaun: Can I tell you one other
thing I did with the Sims?
373
:When I'd have kids and they were
supposed to go to school, I would
374
:block them from being able to go to
school so they would get in trouble.
375
:Peter: Is that like a Rhode Island thing?
376
:Shaun: Is
377
:Peter: it,
378
:Shaun: we'd trap them in the
room with some, a piece of
379
:furniture so they couldn't go to
school and the bus would leave.
380
:They'd get in trouble.
381
:Peter: I think kids are also
guilty of waiting mode too, though.
382
:They're like, I can't do my
homework until I beat this level.
383
:And then five levels later, the homework
is not done, it's 11 o'clock at night.
384
:Shaun: Or I remember when I was a
kid, I would have like basketball
385
:practice or something and I would
think to myself, oh, I can't do,
386
:I have to, I can't do my homework
because I have basketball practice.
387
:Rather than I need to do
my homework because I have
388
:Peter: basketball practice.
389
:Yeah.
390
:It's never the priority
that should take precedence.
391
:Yeah, I think kids are
really guilty of it.
392
:I think that we get angry about it
with kids not doing their homework, but
393
:things are made to be so addictive now.
394
:Shaun: And not only that, they
just worked for, what, eight,
395
:six to eight hours in school.
396
:Did they really need more work at home?
397
:Peter: Did they though?
398
:Did they They're
399
:Shaun: supposed to be,
400
:Peter: yeah, they're supposed to be.
401
:You're supposed to be doing a lot of
stuff in school, I was in all honors
402
:classes, so I had, I was with all the
little smarty kids and then, for my
403
:senior year, I was like, okay, I'm
fucking sick of this and this math, I
404
:wanna take something a little bit easier.
405
:So I dropped my math down a level
and I went into class there.
406
:And I'm like, holy shit,
this is like a fucking party.
407
:This is like a dance party and nobody
knows what the fuck they're doing.
408
:And it was just chaos.
409
:And I was like, I wanna go
back to my classroom, please.
410
:I wanna go back to my class.
411
:Listen,
412
:Shaun: You dropped down a level, right?
413
:Like one level?
414
:Yeah.
415
:So you probably went from just
416
:Peter: in math.
417
:Shaun: Yeah, that's what I'm saying.
418
:So you probably went from
what, like calculus to.
419
:AP Trig.
420
:Yeah, I was gonna say to trig.
421
:Peter: Mm-hmm.
422
:Oh, you went From AP Trig to algebra two.
423
:Shaun: Okay.
424
:So I finished Algebra
one in my senior year.
425
:Can you imagine what
my math class was like?
426
:Peter: I an orgy
427
:Shaun: my math class that it was insane.
428
:There, there was no class happening
429
:Peter: ever.
430
:Yeah.
431
:So you're sitting here and telling
me that they're working eight
432
:hours a day and they should be
tired when your class was basically
433
:people having sex with each other.
434
:That's cool.
435
:No one was having sex
436
:Shaun: With each other, but
we did get invited to our
437
:teacher's Thanksgiving dinner.
438
:Peter: That's inappropriate.
439
:Yeah.
440
:Shaun: Wasn't
441
:Peter: it?
442
:Did they try and touch you?
443
:No.
444
:Did they try and stop you like
a Turkey no more than once?
445
:No.
446
:Never.
447
:You are lying here.
448
:No,
449
:Shaun: never.
450
:Peter: Within
451
:Shaun: a teacher.
452
:Peter: You just found out that one of
your teachers was a murderer, didn't you?
453
:Shaun: I didn't just find out.
454
:It was years ago that I found out,
but yeah he was from elementary school
455
:though, like fifth and sixth grade for me.
456
:Peter: That's what you want and teach
your kids for eight hours a day.
457
:You want a serial killer as their teacher.
458
:Oh, no,
459
:Shaun: he wasn't.
460
:He was.
461
:He was just the gym teacher.
462
:So he touched kids?
463
:Not me.
464
:I don't know if he touched anybody else.
465
:I hope not.
466
:That's fucked up.
467
:Was he good looking?
468
:Did you want him to touch you?
469
:No.
470
:Some of the moms thought he was, but
I didn't see, really see the appeal.
471
:Peter: Sorry, we went off
topic there for a second.
472
:So you wanna play a little game?
473
:Oh, I love games.
474
:This game is called
Productive or Paralysis.
475
:So basically we have a clear, we clearly
have a problem, but how bad is it?
476
:So we're gonna put our anxiety to the
test here and play this little game.
477
:So how we play this game is
I'm gonna give you a scenario.
478
:It is gonna include the current time and
the time slash nature of an appointment.
479
:Okay?
480
:And you have to list three things that
you think that you could realistically
481
:get done before that appointment.
482
:And then I will judge whether.
483
:It's plausible or if it's gonna
be complete paralysis for you.
484
:Shaun: Okay.
485
:Peter: Alright, so we got our first one.
486
:This is gonna be our midday interruption.
487
:So it's 9:00 AM You have a slightly
stressful 15 minute phone call
488
:with your landlord at 1:00 PM
489
:Shaun: Oh, that's it?
490
:Yes.
491
:So what can I get done?
492
:I can make us some coffee.
493
:I can.
494
:Walk the dog and shower.
495
:Peter: Okay.
496
:I don't know.
497
:The coffee thing.
498
:Yes.
499
:I'm not sure about walking the dog.
500
:And sometimes you can't
even focus to take a shower.
501
:So I'm gonna say this is
complete paralysis for you.
502
:Shaun: I tried.
503
:All right, my turn.
504
:We've got evening void to 5:00
PM and you've just finished work.
505
:You're meeting friends for brunch
for dinner at 7:30 PM but you have
506
:to shower and commute 30 minutes.
507
:Peter: I have to shower and
commute 30 minutes, and it's five,
508
:and the event is at seven 30.
509
:Is there.
510
:So I think I could shower, shave,
and get dressed in that time.
511
:That's probably all I could do.
512
:But I could.
513
:No, I could, but don't
514
:Shaun: you need to pick
three other things?
515
:'cause the shower was one of
the things you already had.
516
:Oh yeah,
517
:Peter: that's right.
518
:Okay.
519
:So I could,
520
:I don't know.
521
:I could put.
522
:I could put on music.
523
:Try to pick this here.
524
:I could put on music, I could
get dressed, and I could probably
525
:have a cocktail before I leave.
526
:Shaun: Yeah, I guess I could
make you a cocktail in that time.
527
:Peter: No one said that
you were making it.
528
:It probably just came
outta the fucking fridge.
529
:Yeah, I think that's realistic.
530
:What about you?
531
:Shaun: Yeah, I think
that, that seems logical.
532
:I love how you secured it with that put
on music, which takes all of five seconds.
533
:Yeah,
534
:Peter: I was working at it here.
535
:Alright.
536
:Ooh, I got an interesting
one for you because I think I
537
:already know where this is going.
538
:Uhoh so we're gonna call this
one the airport protocol.
539
:It's Saturday morning.
540
:Your flight leaves at
6:00 AM on Sunday morning.
541
:Oh.
542
:Meaning you need to leave
for the airport at 3:00 AM
543
:Sorry, I'm already laughing.
544
:Shaun: I would love to say
that I'm gonna meet friends for
545
:lunch and I'm going to like.
546
:Double check my bags and I'm going
to, spend some quality time with the
547
:dog or something along those lines.
548
:But in reality, I'm pretty sure my whole
Saturday is just canceled completely.
549
:Like nothing is happening.
550
:Peter: Yeah, I would say that with
complete paralysis, you freak out
551
:every time we have to go on vacation.
552
:You have to throw in 90
million things into the bag.
553
:In my defense,
554
:Shaun: we're always packing right before
we're we need to leave for the airport.
555
:Peter: Yeah.
556
:That's the best time to pack.
557
:No.
558
:Yes it is.
559
:No,
560
:Shaun: no, not for me.
561
:I can't, my brain doesn't
work in that, that stressful.
562
:Mindset.
563
:Your brain doesn't work 24
hours before you have to travel.
564
:My brain doesn't work most of the time.
565
:Don't try and get it to work
in hyper stressful situations.
566
:Peter: I don't, this would've been
complete paralysis for you and as I'm
567
:sure it would be a complete paralysis
first, a bunch of our listeners.
568
:Yeah, I don't think that
this is a specific thing.
569
:I think this is a
millennial specific thing.
570
:Shaun: Yeah, probably I would probably
say that it's mostly millennials That,
571
:or the largest group of people would
be millennials, but I think that other
572
:generations probably deal with it too.
573
:Peter: Yeah.
574
:I would say the Gen Z is probably
paralysis on all of these.
575
:They just have no concept of time.
576
:Right.
577
:Anyway,
578
:Shaun: I've got one for you.
579
:We're gonna call this
one the delivery window.
580
:Peter: That sounds like a porno.
581
:That's where I was going with that one.
582
:As in like park and rear, all that stuff.
583
:Delivery is accepted in rear.
584
:Yeah.
585
:Packages are bigger than expected.
586
:Shaun: All right.
587
:It's Tuesday.
588
:You have a package arriving,
you have a package.
589
:Peter: Yeah, that would be shocking.
590
:Alright, hold on before you do this
that's always been weird to me in movies
591
:or slash pornos when guys put their
junk in a box and give it to somebody
592
:as a gift and then they're supposed
to open it there and be excited.
593
:Yeah.
594
:Oh yay.
595
:That sounds unhygienic.
596
:It's mostly not a gift.
597
:And.
598
:Yeah, it's ridiculous.
599
:And then you're people are just
sitting there and they're like, not.
600
:They're like, oh my God, what'd you get?
601
:What'd you get?
602
:She's like, ah, blah, blah, blah.
603
:So
604
:Shaun: yeah, she turns around.
605
:She's got just jizz all over her face.
606
:Peter: Yes, she's frosted
like a fucking cookie.
607
:Anyway, sorry.
608
:Shaun: All right, so it's Tuesday.
609
:You've got a package arriving
between:
610
:You must be home to sign for it.
611
:Peter: You know how I am with packages.
612
:Shaun: Oh, oh, I know.
613
:That's why I'm just waiting to see
what you have to say for this one.
614
:Peter: I'm gonna be home.
615
:I'm going to be home.
616
:I'm going to be sitting
there watching this.
617
:Okay, so three things.
618
:I will watch the person delivery.
619
:I will check every hour to make
sure that delivery is on time.
620
:And then I will probably
shower and then watch it again.
621
:No, no.
622
:Shaun: That counts as paralysis.
623
:Complete paralysis.
624
:Peter: That's what I would do.
625
:I have issues.
626
:It's the same thing
when you order DoorDash.
627
:I will watch the driver.
628
:Yes, you do.
629
:Shaun: I remember like times when
you would order, when we would order
630
:DoorDash and you would watch the driver.
631
:Going to different places and
you'd say why are they going here?
632
:And then they'd pick up the food and say,
okay, now they're going somewhere else.
633
:Why are you taking my food over here?
634
:Peter: Yeah.
635
:I watch it because I am sure I'm
not the only one on this one too.
636
:I'd watch it because I'm like, my food is
gonna be fucking cold, but when it gets
637
:here, nobody likes soggy ass french fries.
638
:Shaun: And it was, it was cold.
639
:Peter: Yeah, I don't care.
640
:I don't want a free fucking meal.
641
:I don't want a refund.
642
:I wanted my hot, crisp french fries that
you have to worry about, like a Fri chip,
643
:my implant, I want those french fries.
644
:And then they get there and
it's flacid dick, flad dick.
645
:And there's no salt on it either.
646
:Don't, and then they're
like a ball of mush.
647
:Shaun: Yeah.
648
:People who don't salt french
fries should go to jail.
649
:Peter: Yeah, I agree.
650
:You should salt them, maybe add a
little pepper, some garlic powder
651
:on them, or some truffle oil.
652
:Season salt is lovely.
653
:Yes.
654
:And make sure that arrives piping hot.
655
:I want to burn the roof of my mouth.
656
:I do not want this coagulated ball
of mashed potatoes that used to be
657
:french fries in this fucking tray.
658
:And then you serve it to me
and you expect me to thank you.
659
:I want my fucking tip back.
660
:And why are they putting
the tips included now?
661
:Like they're putting them included.
662
:It's stupid.
663
:It's fucking stupid.
664
:They have the 15, I
think it's 10, 15 and 20.
665
:No, 10, 15, and 18.
666
:Why the why do you just go get paid
by hour like the rest of us do?
667
:Shaun: Listen, I, it, I struggle
with the whole tip thing because
668
:I understand just the tip.
669
:No, I don't struggle with that, but
670
:No, I'm just kidding.
671
:Where was I?
672
:I lost my, completely lost my train.
673
:Oh, the tip thing?
674
:The tip thing.
675
:Tipping.
676
:Yeah.
677
:It bothers me because I feel like
it's an excuse for employers to not
678
:have to pay their employees better
salaries or like livable wages
679
:for the work that they're doing.
680
:But at the same time, I think
that it's good in the aspect
681
:that it makes people want.
682
:Most of the time makes them
want to provide better service.
683
:Yeah.
684
:So I am a, I'm a firm like believer
in tipping a really good service.
685
:Mm-hmm.
686
:But I think that these people
still deserve to make more
687
:money for what they're doing.
688
:Peter: They agree, but they also had the
law that would've allowed them to do that.
689
:I believe it was last year and they voted
it down maybe we shouldn't tip anymore and
690
:maybe they'll vote that law into existence
691
:Shaun: maybe.
692
:Peter: But anyway, so that game
proved that we basically are incapable
693
:of functioning like normal adults.
694
:But why?
695
:And is there any hope for us?
696
:Or should we just embrace the void?
697
:So why do you think we're like this?
698
:Shaun: I don't know,
just society in general.
699
:There's too much, expect
too many expectations of us.
700
:So when there's something that
we know we have to do, we just
701
:try to chill out beforehand.
702
:Peter: You don't think it could be
attributed to like mental health, maybe
703
:like anxiety, A DHD, something like that?
704
:Oh, definitely,
705
:Shaun: definitely.
706
:Peter: Yeah.
707
:I feel like that happens all the time.
708
:I can't focus because I am like clinically
depressed, until that medication like
709
:goes in my stomach, I cannot focus on
anything and it's really fucking sad.
710
:But I think that a lot of
it has to do with that.
711
:The brain is just like struggling to
transition between tasks and I think
712
:that has a lot to do with mental health.
713
:We did do an entire episode on
mental health, so if you guys have
714
:not heard it, you should go back.
715
:But.
716
:I think it was 87% of Gen Zs
and millennials, experience some
717
:for of . Mental health issues.
718
:Shaun: Yeah, I think that's a really good
point because one thing that I can think
719
:of on this topic related to my life on
a daily basis is that when I wake up and
720
:I start working for the day and I have
meetings in the morning, I always am
721
:very anxious prior to my first meeting.
722
:And once I get my first
meeting out of the way.
723
:Some of that anxiety is lifted.
724
:Not all of it, but some of it.
725
:Mm-hmm.
726
:So I think that it's that anticipation
of the event and the unknowns around
727
:the event, even if it's something
familiar, that kind of just give us
728
:that feeling of anxiety and that stress.
729
:Peter: Yeah.
730
:So another thing here is do
you think that time is fake?
731
:Oh, absolutely.
732
:You think it's just a way of
conforming, like conformity
733
:for a society, just a concept.
734
:Shaun: I'm like I go back
and forth on that one.
735
:'cause I, I do feel that to an
extent it is just a concept.
736
:But at the same time I do recognize that
there clearly is day and night and it
737
:switches within a certain time period.
738
:So.
739
:I think that aspect of time is real, but
I think that the whole hours that we broke
740
:the day into and everything is literally
just a way to get more work out of us.
741
:Peter: Yeah, probably.
742
:So you are, you do believe
that we're victims of an
743
:industrialized sense of time.
744
:Shaun: Yeah, absolutely.
745
:Peter: Yeah.
746
:And I can agree with that.
747
:But why do you think it is that the future
appointment feels like it's more important
748
:and threatening than the present moment?
749
:Shaun: I've never really thought
about that, but I guess the way,
750
:the first thing my brain goes to
is that the present moment, you're
751
:already in it, so it doesn't feel
as terrifying as what's to come.
752
:It's almost like when you have a long list
of things to do and you just, you don't
753
:know how you're gonna get it all done.
754
:But with, it's the opposite.
755
:It's like, oh, I don't have anything
to do right now, so what do I do?
756
:Because I have this coming up.
757
:Peter: So you think it's impending
dread that you're gonna miss something?
758
:Shaun: Yeah.
759
:Peter: Say fomo?
760
:Shaun: Yeah.
761
:More or less, I think
it is a form of fomo.
762
:Yeah.
763
:That's a good way to put it.
764
:Peter: Well, good.
765
:Yeah, I think that a lot
of people think that too.
766
:That.
767
:You can't live in the moment
because that moment is fleeting.
768
:And you are preparing for the moment that
you feel is gonna matter for the day.
769
:Shaun: Exactly, yes, exactly.
770
:Peter: Even though that moment
is only like 30 minutes.
771
:Shaun: Yeah.
772
:And even though most of the
time you're not really looking
773
:forward to that moment, it's just
774
:Peter: Yeah.
775
:What you think
776
:Shaun: holds the most weight in your day.
777
:Peter: So do you feel like there's
any unique exhaustion over that?
778
:Like after the appointment is over
even if the appointment itself was
779
:easy is there any anxiety that you th
experience leading up to how it was
780
:like it was the real work for the day?
781
:Shaun: Yeah.
782
:I.
783
:I definitely think that I often get
really sweaty and antsy, giy, juicy.
784
:Juicy yeah.
785
:Sweaty and antsy and a lot of times
I'll have to get up outta my seat just
786
:before a meeting and kind of do a little
moving around to calm myself down or go
787
:pet the dog or something along, or pace
788
:Peter: between rooms.
789
:Yeah.
790
:You know, go
791
:Shaun: complain to you about something.
792
:Peter: Or everything, yeah.
793
:Shaun: Just to get some
of that anxiety out.
794
:And then I do notice that after
the calls, I am again, very
795
:sweaty, very much speaking quickly,
796
:Peter: anxiety ridden.
797
:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
798
:I think that happens
with us, with all of us.
799
:To be honest, I, you know how I am.
800
:I'm very stressed out all the time.
801
:I always have to, I'm always thinking
about like the next thing I have to do and
802
:I'm not really focusing on the present.
803
:I think that mainly just comes
down to I need to feel like
804
:I'm in control of something.
805
:I say it all the time.
806
:You can only control what you can control.
807
:So I feel like I need to get
to that moment in the day, and
808
:that'll be fine after that.
809
:But I'm not, and so I experience it.
810
:I get to that moment in the day, and
then I'm starting to look for the
811
:next issue that needs to be solved.
812
:Shaun: Yeah.
813
:Peter: I hope that there are some people
that can relate to that, but yeah, I
814
:know that I'm not the only one on that.
815
:Shaun: Yeah, I think that's something
that a lot of people deal with.
816
:I think that's, especially this
day and age, it's a common stress.
817
:Peter: Yeah.
818
:Oh, right.
819
:So can you think of any advice
to give our listeners to in, have
820
:some common productivity advice?
821
:Shaun: I would say that when I notice
that I'm getting this sense of dread, this
822
:waiting mode feeling going on, that I try.
823
:To remind myself to just
take it one thing at a time.
824
:Peter: Mm-hmm.
825
:Shaun: Just focus on one thing you
have to get done or you want to get
826
:done, do that thing and then move
on to whatever else you have to do.
827
:Because if you start looking at
every single thing, it's just gonna
828
:overwhelm you even more, and you're
gonna feel even more unproductive.
829
:So for me, that works best.
830
:Another thing that works if that's
not your style, another thing that has
831
:worked for me is listing everything
out and then that would make me anxious
832
:saying what's the most important thing?
833
:However, for me now that.
834
:That method doesn't
necessarily work well anymore.
835
:Peter: I, so yeah, because prioritizing
tasks, you can't really decipher which
836
:one is going to be the most important.
837
:So they all seem equally important.
838
:So it just makes you more stressed out.
839
:Shaun: Yeah.
840
:Peter: So that's how I think about it.
841
:But my advice would be time blocking.
842
:So throughout the day in your
calendars, block off like five
843
:minutes, 10 minutes, and every hour.
844
:Where it's just you just relax
in that time and then think about
845
:working to the next 10 minutes
that'll help you get through the day.
846
:And then if you have an appointment at the
end of the day, just work towards that.
847
:Oh, I have a 10 minute break here.
848
:I'll relax here.
849
:I have me time.
850
:I have a five.
851
:Okay, so my next one is
gonna be in 45 minutes.
852
:I'll have a five minute break there.
853
:And it gives your time, your brain time to
relax, reset, and not be so stressed out.
854
:Shaun: Absolutely.
855
:And another thing that I would say
for advice that's along the same
856
:lines of time blocking it, it is
time blocking, but just thinking
857
:about it in a different aspect is.
858
:I'm someone who needs a few minutes
to prepare before a meeting.
859
:So I try to have a five to 10 minute
buffer time between meetings if possible.
860
:Mm-hmm.
861
:So if you have the ability to to build
that into your schedule or include
862
:that in your schedule, do it, don't
feel like you're being unproductive
863
:by doing that, you're taking the
time that you need to ensure that
864
:you make the most of your entire day.
865
:Peter: Yeah.
866
:I feel like there are things that probably
won't work as well, like doom scrolling.
867
:Yeah.
868
:That it's not pro, not productive at all.
869
:Shaun: And often it gives me more anxiety.
870
:Peter: Right.
871
:Because then you're ultimately,
you're thinking about fomo.
872
:My god, this person's doing this.
873
:I wish I was doing that.
874
:Let's work to doing that.
875
:And then you never get there
and it's just, it's awful.
876
:It's awful for your psyche.
877
:Yep.
878
:Organizing Spotify playlist.
879
:That's that's anxiety ridden in itself.
880
:Do I organize this by genre?
881
:Do I organize this by alphabetically?
882
:Do I organize this by performer?
883
:Those are all, those are things
that can get you hyper stressed out.
884
:So my advice on that would just
be, let it play live in the
885
:moment and you don't like it.
886
:Hit next.
887
:Yeah.
888
:But also you should make time to
watch the shows that you want.
889
:Relaxation time.
890
:Sit down, watch a show, put your phone on,
do not disturb for that 30 minute period.
891
:If you can't live without your phone, you
got a bigger issue and just chill out.
892
:Prepare for the time that you
need before that appointment.
893
:At the end of the day.
894
:Shaun: We all need some US time, me time.
895
:Peter: Yes, absolutely.
896
:Decompression time.
897
:There you go.
898
:Okay, so it is time to wrap up here.
899
:But first off I wanna say that it's okay
for you to admit that the anxiety is real
900
:in your life that you're dealing with.
901
:A lot of things that are going on,
it's okay to be verbal about it,
902
:to communicate with your friends.
903
:Just don't go fucking overboard because
we've talked about this as well.
904
:But you need to get it out and
you need, and just accept that
905
:being unproductive is just part of
your process throughout the day.
906
:Shaun: Absolutely.
907
:Peter: Because Unproductivity can lead
to something productive, as awful as
908
:that sounds and convoluted sometimes.
909
:You never know.
910
:Shaun: Okay, it's 4:00 PM
the apocalypse is here.
911
:Have to go
912
:Peter: face the dentist.
913
:Well, you did it Sean.
914
:You waited successfully for
six hours and I'm proud of you.
915
:And now that's almost over.
916
:You're free.
917
:Shaun: Yeah, I'm exhausted.
918
:The waiting took everything out of me.
919
:I'm going to bed as soon as I get back.
920
:It's 4:01 PM The spiral has concluded.
921
:And if you two are currently sitting on
your couch, unable to move because you
922
:have to pick up takeout in three hours.
923
:We see you.
924
:We are you.
925
:Peter: So tell us your most embarrassing
waiting mode stories on our socials.
926
:We need to know we're not alone.
927
:Shaun: Join us next week assuming we
don't have any appointments scheduled.
