Procrastination and Time Management: Why Managing Your Emotions Matters
Is Time Management Really the Problem? Let me guess, you’ve spent your whole life thinking procrastination is a time management problem? You’ve been told that this new planner or this new course will solve all of your problems. The truth is that time management is only half of the story. The rest of the puzzle […]
Are You Living in the Moment or Trying to Escape it?
“The trouble is, you think you have time.” – Jack Kornfield I spend a lot of my time trying to cherish each moment. I try to remember the details of an evening stroll or the taste of my favorite foods. I am also always trying to make each moment worth remembering. Lately I’ve been wondering […]
The Magic You’re Looking For is in the Work You Are Avoiding
“The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.” – Chris Williamson Always Searching for More I sometimes wonder why we always seem to want more. More money, more followers, more time. Our refrigerator is full of food, yet we order takeout. Our closets are overflowing with clothes, yet we buy […]
What Is Procrastination Really Stealing From You?
“Procrastination is the thief of time.” — Edward Young (1743) This is one of the most famous quotes about procrastination. Most of us have experienced the frustration of putting something off, only to realize how much time has slipped away. We tell ourselves that we will only watch one more episode or scroll for only […]
Tomorrow Never Comes: What Is Procrastination, Really?
We’ve all been there. You have an important deadline looming, but suddenly you decide that right now is the perfect moment to learn how to bake sourdough from scratch. We often call procrastination laziness, but as a researcher fascinated by human behavior, I look at it a bit differently. If you are asking yourself, “why […]
The History of Procrastination: Humans Have Been Delaying Things for Over 2,000 Years
If you’ve ever blamed your phone for your procrastination, you might be surprised to learn that humans were complaining about putting things off long before smartphones, email, or even electricity existed. In fact, the struggle to delay important work has been documented for more than two millennia. From ancient Greek poets and Roman philosophers to […]
Understanding Procrastination: A Research-Based Guide
Most people know exactly what procrastination feels like. You have something important to do, and even though you intend to do it, you somehow find yourself checking email, scrolling social media, cleaning your desk, or doing almost anything except the task you meant to start. If you’ve ever found yourself asking, “why do I procrastinate […]