Procrastination – What It Is, Why It`s a Problem, and What You Can Do About It: APA LifeTools Series

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 fulfil 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.

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. Follow her on Twitter @FuschiaSirois.

Acknowledgments
Introduction
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 Do People Procrastinate?
Chapter 5. Procrastination Decoded: Why Mood Matters
Chapter 6. Seek the Source
Part III. Evidence-Based Strategies to Help You Stop Procrastinating
Chapter 7. Why Mindset Matters
Chapter 8. Perspective Matters: The Power of Reframing
Chapter 9. Embrace Your Future Self to Bridge the Temporal Gap
Chapter 10. Ready, Set, Go!
References
Index
About the Author