The Procrastination Equation: How to Stop Putting Things Off and Start Getting Stuff Done - Softcover

Steel, Dr Piers

Softcover

ISBN 10: 027372326X ISBN 13: 9780273723264

Publisher: Pearson Life, 2010

Synopsis

Procrastination – or at least lack of motivation – is endemic. A massive 95% of us admit to procrastinating. For 20% of us the problem is chronic and it affects our health and wealth, success and happiness. And the problem is getting worse – rates have quadrupled since the 1970s.

We all recognise it, we all want to understand it – and to have a breakthrough moment that helps us be more productive, less guilty – and ultimately happier.

Scientifically rigorous, hugely entertaining, compelling and readable, this book will solve your problems of procrastination and get you motivated to live the life you want. Based on 10 years of award winning scientific research and written by the foremost scientist in the field, this book contains new techniques for dealing with the problem. There are still scientifically proven techniques for controlling and improving motivation that have not yet been tapped and translated into accessible terms – this is the book that does it for the first time.

About this title

Review:

“Procrastinating just makes unpleasant tasks worse, so why is it so hard for us to resist dithering and delay? The Procrastination Equation is crammed with surprising insights about procrastination and human nature -- as well as concrete, helpful solutions for fighting procrastination.” (Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project )

“Procrastination is the saffron spice of human behavior, where even small amounts of this tendency can shatter the best of intentions. In this illuminating book Piers Steel shows us the secrets of procrastination, how it affects us and how we will, one day, be able to prevail.” (Dan Ariely, author of The Upside of Irrationality and Predictably Irrational )

“The Procrastination Equation will teach you how to bust the excuses that are preventing you from doing your best work and living your best life. . . . So don’t put it off any longer. Read this book. Today.” (Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive and A Whole New Mind )

“An upbeat, motivational guide to procrastination. . . . Everything you ever wanted to know about procrastination but never got around to reading.” (Kirkus Reviews )

 

From the Back Cover:

Are you one of the 95% of people who procrastinate?

Don’t put off reading this book ...

 

If you spend hours on the internet when there’s something very important you should be doing, if you habitually put off dealing with paperwork, if you find yourself repeatedly vowing to start that diet/go to the gym ‘next week’, or frequently stay up late watching TV when you should just go to bed, The Procrastination Equation is the one book you really have to read.

 

In these pages you’ll discover exactly why we don’t do the things we need to do, in good time – and why, in Western societies, we’re in the midst of an escalating procrastination epidemic that’s affecting the health, wealth and happiness of entire countries.

             

The book reveals who procrastinates and why and explores the contribution of cultural, psychological, and biological factors. But most of all, it shows us all clearly and practically, how we can conquer our inner demons, and transform our lives by simply getting things done.

         

Piers Steel, PhD, is the world’s leading researcher and speaker on the science of motivation and procrastination. A professor at the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business, Dr Steel has been studying procrastination and its impact for more than ten years – and spent the decades before that as a procrastinator himself. Dr. Steel’s research has been reported on in publications ranging from the New York Times and New Scientist to Good Housekeeping. He lives in Canada, with his wife and two sons.

Are you always late or behind with something?

Do you find yourself scrambling to finish everything at the last minute?

Are there dozens of untackled jobs around your home?

Is your desk covered with stuff you just haven’t got round to dealing with?

Then you’re not alone. Across the world, millions of us are engaged in a never-ending battle to get stuff done. It’s a battle that frustrates us, makes us unhappy, costs us financially and takes its toll on our health. What’s more, it’s likely to limit our career potential.

So why do intelligent, able people put things off, even when we know we’ll be worse off for doing so? And, more importantly, how do we change?

In this groundbreaking book, the world’s leading expert on procrastination, Dr Piers Steel, reveals the truth about why we don’t do what we don’t do – and shows us what we can do about it.

Using a powerful mix of psychology, science, self-help, and a decade of his own research, Dr Steel shows us what effect procrastination has on our lives, and offers real hope to sufferers everywhere.

 

 

 

About this edition

• Publisher: Pearson Life
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 027372326X
• ISBN 13: 9780273723264
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 328