Irrationality in Human Behavior

I think that irrationality is a huge element of the human experience.  Without irrationality, we are perfect, rational robots without free will.  Though we can strive to be perfectly rational, it is impossible and we end up being defined more by our irrational elements than anything else.  Many dangerous sports or activities are not the smartest idea to participate in when evaluated completely rationally, yet many people in the world play football, dive in the ocean, or ski through trees.  From a rational perspective, these activities probably have a negative expected value of gain, meaning that the amount of pleasure or enjoyment you get from doing this activity is probably small in comparison to the immense risk of injury or loss.  Yet, people including myself do these things because they are fun, and because sometimes the danger of an activity is what makes it exciting.

One personal example of how I can be irrational is the amount of time I spend on my phone.  Rationally, it would serve me better to get started on homework earlier or to do something more constructive than scroll through facebook or snapchat people strange pictures of myself.  From an outsider's perspective, these things can seem silly and stupid, and clearly irrational if my goal is to do well in school and be as efficient as possible with my time.  And yet, many people all over the world spend too much time on their phones, and this is part of what defines their, and my, existence.  Also, a simple example is procrastination.  Rationally, procrastination is stupid and I would expend the same amount of energy doing homework sooner rather than later, and be happier and less stressed out.  And yet I still procrastinate to no end.  Why?  Because I don't feel like doing homework all the time... because I would rather go on my phone now... and ultimately, because I'm human.