It’s Sunday, 8 p.m., and tomorrow you have a big test and two projects due. By now, almost everything is complete and you can look over those last few terms and add a few more pictures to the presentation at your leisure. You’re going to go to bed at a normal, human hour and wake up prepared and relaxed. Because that’s what’s logical.

Unfortunately, that also never happened. Let’s run the scenario again.

It’s Sunday, 8pm, and tomorrow you have a big test and two projects due. You just looked at the clock and had a full-on, rocking-back-and-forth panic attack. You’re thinking that if you look over the terms once at lunch, you might be able to get by on what you learned in class and pull out an okay test grade. At least you started one of the projects on Friday. But it’s still going to be a very long night. Better break out the chocolate.

At that point, all you can think is, “how did I let this happen again?”

This is very much how my Sunday nights go. And it’s all Netflix’s fault. Netflix, my nemesis.

It’s an addiction. Unhelpfully, the designers’ of Netflix have set it up to keep it that way. With traditional TV, the ending of episodes are meant to hold your attention until the next one comes out a week later. Pair that with the fact that Netflix conveniently loads the next episode in a matter of seconds and it’s a powerful force you’re up against.

But the problems don’t really come from Netflix. Netflix is doing exactly what it’s supposed to: being a business, making shows accessible and getting people to watch those shows. That’s its formula.The problems lie within me. And if my conversations and complaining sessions with others have shown me anything, they lie within you too (yes, you). If we’re going to beat our nemeses and get off the procrastination track, we’re going to need to understand those problems and make a formula for ourselves too.

So for me, my problem is that I get caught up in the story. I can’t stop until I reach the end. It’s a need that goes deep into the human psyche. I want to finish what I’ve started, to do easy and fun things, before time runs out. The only way to ensure that something is done before time runs out is to do it in the present. Because we give this the cute name of “instant gratification,” it’s easy to forget just how deeply rooted this fear is.

That fear is my real nemesis. Netflix is just its henchman. Understanding the problem? Check. Now, we need a strategy to fight.

I tried blocking Netflix from my laptop. It didn’t work well because a) I put the blocker on, so I knew how to turn it off and b) it only tried to change my behavior. Blocking the website didn’t change my thinking. My secret weapon turned out to be even simpler.

Logic. It’s surprising how powerful reminding yourself of reality can be. The fact is I’m probably not going to “run out of time” if I wait to watch the next episode tomorrow. Telling myself "I want to be getting my work done first because that’s what makes sense" is enough to actually allow me to get my work done.

So that’s my advice to you, fellow procrastinators. Know your enemy, be aware of when you’re falling for their dirty tricks and create a strategy with which you can fight back. I promise, when you win, you’ll get be prepared and relaxed for that test the next morning.