Read the passage given below and answer questions

Procrastination is the act of delaying or postponing a task or set of tasks. So, whether you refer to it as procrastination or ‘akrasia’ or something else, it is the force that prevents you from following through on what you set out to do.

Behavioral psychology research has revealed a phenomenon called “time inconsistency,” which helps explain why procrastination seems to pull us in despite our good intentions. Time inconsistency refers to the tendency of the human brain to value immediate rewards more highly than future rewards. So, the Present Self and the Future Self are often at odds with one another. The Future Self wants to be trim and fit, but the Present Self wants a donut. Sure, everyone knows you should eat healthy today to avoid being overweight in 10 years. But consequences like an increased risk for diabetes or heart failure are years away.

You cannot rely on long-term consequences and rewards to motivate the Present Self. Instead, you have to find a way to move future rewards and punishments into the present moment. You have to make the future consequences become present consequences.

This is exactly what happens during the moment when we finally move beyond procrastination and take action. For example, let's say you have a report to write. You've known about it for weeks and continued to put it off day after day. You experience a little bit of nagging pain and anxiety thinking about this paper you have to write, but not enough to do anything about it. Then, suddenly, the day before the deadline, the future consequences turn into present consequences, and you write that report hours before it is due. The pain of procrastinating finally escalated and you crossed the “Action Line.”

There is something important to note here. As soon as you cross the Action Line, the pain begins to subside. In fact, being in the middle of procrastination is often more painful than being in the middle of doing the work. The guilt, shame, and anxiety that you feel while procrastinating are usually worse than the effort and energy you have to put in while you're working. The problem is not doing the work, it's starting the work.

According to the passage, what is ‘Action line’ ?

When you start working

The correct answer is Option 1: When you start working

In the passage, the concept of the "Action Line" refers to the critical moment when someone transitions from procrastination to actually taking action on a task. The passage describes procrastination as a state where individuals delay or postpone tasks, often due to the tendency of the human brain to prioritize immediate rewards over future ones. The Present Self seeks instant gratification, while the Future Self may have long-term goals that conflict with immediate desires.

For example, if someone has a report to write, they might continuously put it off until the day before the deadline. At this point, the future consequences of not completing the report (such as potential failure or negative repercussions) become immediate and unavoidable. This is when they cross the "Action Line" and begin working on the task.

The passage highlights that once someone crosses the Action Line and starts working, the pain of procrastination begins to subside. The guilt, shame, and anxiety associated with procrastination are often more intense than the effort required to complete the task. Therefore, the problem is not necessarily the work itself but rather the initial hurdle of starting it.

Overall, the Action Line represents the pivotal moment when procrastination ends and productive action begins. Crossing this line is essential for overcoming procrastination and completing tasks effectively.