Procrastination
Why do we procrastinate? How can we stop wasting time, and finish our work?
Drawing on the latest theory and research, this book explains why people procrastinate, and provides practical, evidence-based strategies to help you stop delaying, complete your tasks, and fulfill your potential.
At the heart of procrastination are your emotions and ability to regulate your mood. In this book you will learn how to dial down negative emotions, and replace old habits with new ones that can help you stay on track with your tasks and goals. You will also learn how to treat your procrastination with compassion, rather than harsh judgements or complicated analyses of your motivation.
Handy worksheets in the book help you recognize reasons why a task might be triggering negative feelings, plus how to be more self-compassionate, and how to build meaning into the everyday tasks that help you reach your goals.
Part I. How Procrastination Affects Your Life
- Chapter 1. Procrastination: An All-Too-Common Problem
- Chapter 2. That Mystical Land of Tomorrow: Lost Productivity and Abandoned Dreams
- Chapter 3. Can Procrastination Be Bad for Your Health?
- Chapter 4. Procrastination Through a Social Lens
Part II. When and Why People Procrastinate
- Chapter 5. Procrastination Decoded: Why Mood Matters
- Chapter 6. Seek the Source
Part III. Evidence-based Strategies to Reduce Procrastination
- Chapter 7. Why Mindset Matters
- Chapter 8. Perspective Matters: The Power of Reframing
- Chapter 9. Embrace Your Future Self
- Chapter 10. Ready, Set, Go!
Fuschia M. Sirois, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Psychology at Durham University, Durham, England, and heads the Self-Regulation in Health and Well-Being Laboratory.
For more than 20 years, she has researched the causes and consequences of procrastination as well as how emotions play a role in explaining why people procrastinate. Her research also examines the role of positive psychology traits, states, and interventions for supporting self-regulation and enhancing health and well-being.
Prof. Sirois writes and presents talks for academic audiences and the general public on topics that include gratitude, self-compassion, loneliness, perfectionism, and how procrastination is linked to mood.
‘There is hope’: expert writes guide to tackling procrastination. Psychology professor draws on 20 years of studying often crippling issue that can affect sufferers’ careers and even health…Procrastination: What it is, why it’s a problem and what you can do about it is published by the American Psychological Association and is out now.
—The Guardian
No one on the planet knows more about procrastination than Fuschia Sirois—her groundbreaking research has transformed how we understand its roots and remedies. In this engaging book, she presents the state of the science and offers practical insights to help you stop putting things off. Postpone reading it at your own risk.
—Adam Grant, PhD, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Think Again and Host of the TED Podcast Worklife
I have seen too many people who have had their lives ruined by procrastination. Fuschia Sirois has provided a valuable book that reflects her unparalleled understanding of what causes procrastination and what needs to be done to address it. The practical suggestions and exercises found in this book will restore the hope of procrastinators who decided long ago that they would never be able to escape their tendency to make life more difficult. People who are desperate for help will certainly benefit from this book.
—Gordon L. Flett, PhD, Professor of Psychology, York University
This book is a valuable companion to individuals struggling with procrastination. Fuschia Sirois provides insights into the unique psychological processes of procrastination. Self-compassion and self-forgiveness are presented as two innovative starting points to overcoming procrastination.
—Dr. Carola Grunschel, Professor of Educational Psychology, University of Münster
Now is the time to revisit the science and solutions of procrastination. In this readable and friendly book, Dr. Sirois updates and expands information on the causes, consequences, and “curse” of procrastination based on psychological science. It’s a good read, for those who want to end procrastination now.
—Joseph R. Ferrari, PhD, St. Vincent DePaul Distinguished Professor of Psychology, DePaul University, and author of Still Procrastination? The No-Regrets Guide to Getting It Done
A superb book written by a scholar with more than 2 decades of groundbreaking research helping us understand how procrastination undermines our well-being and health. Dr. Sirois provides clear explanations about the many factors that contribute to our procrastination combined with practical exercises to facilitate change. This is a book that can help you end self-defeating delay in your life.
—Timothy A. Pychyl, PhD, Associate Professor, Carleton University, and author of Solving the Procrastination Puzzle: A Concise Guide to Strategies for Change
