Are you “Shaving the Yak?”
Sorry, my curious brain couldn’t let this go… I came across the term “Shaving the Yak” while writing my article about ADHD and perfectionism.
That post was getting too long, and it didn’t sort of fit into procrastination or avoiding starting a project – but it sort of did.
Come along with me as I attempt to explain this charming little phrase.
Table of Contents
What Does “Shaving the Yak” Mean?
Ah, the dreaded yak shaving—when you set out to do one task that leads you to perform another related task and so on, and so on — all distracting you from your original goal.
We’ve all experienced this, maybe even more so for those of us who live in the land of “now or not now.” This is sometimes called “going down the rabbit hole” or “one thing leading to another.” Yak Shaving can be a real time waster.
“Yak shaving” (or “shaving a yak”) is a term coined by Carlin Vieri, an MIT Ph.D., in the ’90s after watching the “Yak Shaving Day” episode of “The Ren & Stimpy Show.”
Watch yak shaving in action: Hal, the dad from Malcom in The Middle, changes a lightbulb. This video concisely demonstrates in 42 seconds what yak shaving is:
Seth’s Blog humorously adds “This yak shaving phenomenon tends to hit some people more than others, but what makes it particularly perverse is when groups of people get involved. It’s bad enough when one person gets all up in arms yak shaving, but when you try to get a group of people together, you’re just as likely to end up giving the yak a manicure.”
*Sigh* I have painfully witnessed the group yak event before. By the way, kudos to Jono Hay for illustrating the concept of yak shaving.
Yak shaving is common in software development, where when tackling one thing, you often find yourself fixing something else, which needs you to fix something else, and so on. Apparently “yak shaving” turned into a computer term by the MIT media lab in 2010, yak shaving was referenced by Joi Ito. (Link: Joi Ito’s Web: Yak Shaving)
I Shaved the Yak
We all have our shaving the yak story – mine was a little extreme. My family was cleaning the house, getting ready for a graduation party. At some point, somebody set something on the kitchen table that left an etched ring into the wood (to this day, I still don’t know what caused it).
A sane person would have just thrown a tablecloth over it and called it good. Not me! I brought out a furniture stripper, took off the varnish, followed by sanding. The table soon had a new coat of varnish and was ready to go… what the hell was I thinking?
I attribute it to some level of unexplainable stress. I think Hal Wilkerson and I would have been great friends.
How To Prevent Yak Shaving
Here’s how to escape the yak-shaving vortex:
- Stay Focused on the Goal – Before diving into anything, clearly define the actual task you’re trying to accomplish.
- Recognize Distractions – If you catch yourself doing something unrelated (like fixing a tiny bug when you were supposed to write a report), pause and reassess.
- Set Boundaries – Give yourself limits on how far you’re willing to go down a rabbit hole before redirecting back to the main task.
- Delegate or Put Off Until a Later Date – If a secondary task is necessary but not urgent, pass it on or schedule it for later if possible.
- Use the “Good Enough” Rule – Perfectionism leads to excessive yak shaving. Sometimes, “good enough” is actually good enough.
For example, in the case of derailed online shopping, do what I do. I keep a list of things that need more research time before buying (or just a shopping list, so I don’t stop at that moment to buy it). Because it’s more than one item, I naturally push a little faster to get through it. This strategy assures I don’t interrupt the current project at hand.
As mentioned previously, over-the-top yak shaving could happen due to stressful conditions. Guys and gals: you’re not thinking clearly! That does seem to be an ongoing problem with the way our brains are wired. You might have to take physical action when the yak shaving spiral starts, like splashing cold water on your face.
It’s the wide open days that are most susceptible to yak shaving.
-Renee’s Rabbit Hole
When I am faced with an entire Saturday to do household chores, yak shaving inevitably hits. The wide open days always get me. Have you ever told yourself, “There’s no time like the present!” and then you’re head deep into a project that wasn’t even on the list one hour ago?
Our ADHD brains will always go where they want to (it’s like trying to ride a stubborn mule). My best advice for Saturdays is to make a list first thing in the morning. If a secondary item arises, write it down on a secondary to-do list. Then make a pinky-promise with yourself to stick to the master list of the day.
In summary, shaving the yak are productive actions that aren’t productive. Many of us bemoan we never have enough time. Well, one reason could be frequent yak shaving. If you find that this is the case, be on the alert for this hidden stealer of your time!
#inthistogether -Renee
