16 Best Books on Procrastination

A powerful and personalized process to improve your life and advance your career

Do you sometimes feel stuck, despite real efforts to gain momentum on goals you’ve set?

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Warren Buffett compares stock trading to great athletes: they excel not because of fast neurological responses, but because of their ability to delay as long as possible before reacting. Successful CEOs, firefighters, and military officers all know how to manage delay to gather as much information as possible to get the results they need.

In Wait, Frank Partnoy argues that decisions of all kinds, whether ‘snap’ or long-term, benefit from being made at the last possible moment. The art of knowing how long you can afford to delay before committing is at the heart of many a great decision, whether in a corporate takeover or a marriage proposal. Apologies are better received if they are not rushed and people who can defer gratification are happier and more successful than those who must have everything now. Partnoy demonstrates that the ability to wait is crucial to getting the right answer and that gut instinct are often wrong.

In his bestselling first book, Getting Things Done, veteran coach and management consultant David Allen presented his breakthrough methods to increase efficiency. Now “the personal productivity guru” (Fast Company) shows readers how to increase their ability to work better, not harder—every day. Based on Allen’s highly popular e-newsletter, Ready for Anything offers readers 52 ways to immediately clear your head for creativity, focus your attention, create structures that work, and take action to get things moving.

With wit, inspiration, and know-how, Allen shows readers how to make things happen—with less effort and stress, and lots more energy, creativity, and effectiveness. Ready for Anything is the perfect book for anyone wanting to work and live at his or her very best.

20 percent of people admit to being procrastinators and an untold number never admit to it at all. Procrastination is an epidemic that can only be eliminated if the underlying causes are uncovered. Yet there’s very little understanding of how to let go of procrastination, how to recognize and diffuse the feelings that lead to it, and most importantly, how to develop the ability to both produce and relax without guilt.

In the pages of The Procrastination Cure, you’ll discover:

• The root causes of procrastination (as opposed to viewing procrastination as merely a time-management issue)
• The six types of procrastinators: the Neurotic Perfectionist, the Big Deal Chaser, the Chronic Worrier, the Rebellious Rebel, the Drama Addict, and the Angry Giver
• Key strategies, practical solutions, and real-life examples for overcoming each variety of procrastination

Many books on procrastination are written from a distance by PhDs whereas Jeffery Combs, a recovering procrastinator himself, will help you overcome procrastination and achieve the life of your dreams based on his own experiences and research.

A must-have for anyone who puts things off until tomorrow. Based on their workshops and counseling experience, psychologists Jane B. Burka and Lenora M. Yuen offer a probing, sensitive, and at times humorous look at a problem that affects everyone: students and scientists, secretaries and executives, homemakers and salespeople. Wise, effective, and easy-to-use, Procrastination identifies the reasons we put off tasks-fears of failure, success, control, separation, and attachment-and their roots in our childhood and adult experiences. Burka and Yuen even provide tips on living and working with the procrastinators you may know.

“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

“Illuminating….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

Using a mix of psychology, evolutionary biology, self-help, and more than a decade of research, Dr. Piers Steel, the world’s foremost authority on procrastination, offers a tried and true method helping us to identify, understand, and break free of our self-destructive bad habits and create more positive lives for ourselves.

Why do we sabotage our own best intentions? How can we eliminate procrastination from our lives for good? Based on current psychological research and supplemented with clear strategies for change, this concise guide will help readers finally break free from self-destructive ideas and habits, and move into freedom and accomplishment. With numerous practical tips for change, Solving the Procrastination Puzzle brings clarity and scientific studies—and a touch of humor!—to the quest for successfully achieving goals. This accessible guide is perfect for entrepreneurs, parents, students, and anyone who wants to get unstuck stop delaying, and start living their most inspired life.

Is your potential limited due to your procrastination habit? Are you tired of the guilt, stress, and overwhelm? Do you want to learn the secret to getting things done quickly and effectively, so you can increase your success in all areas of life?

In this no-fluff and action-oriented book, you’ll discover the real reason behind your procrastination (there’s only one!) and you’ll find https://amzn.to/3ei7rjNpotent tools to help you overcome procrastination for good.

In Stop Procrastinating You’ll Discover…

• More than 20 science-based strategies designed to help you overcome laziness, free yourself from excessive guilt, and get things done whether you feel like it or not.
• A simple strategy for programming your unconscious mind to act in any way you like
• New research explaining differences between procrastinators and non-procrastinators (Hint: procrastination is not your fault.)
• Why criticizing yourself always leads to more procrastination and what to do instead
• The 30-second trick to build “instant habits” so you can wake up early, exercise regularly and get more done without wasting any willpower
• A quick walkthrough of the new science of willpower: why you need it, easy ways to get more of it, and step-by-step advice on how you’ll use it to overcome procrastination
• Why your granny doesn’t procrastinate (the alarming link between technology, distractions, and procrastination… and what you must do to escape this trap)
• Rarely discussed but highly researched strategies that tackle the root cause of procrastination… allowing you to quickly relieve guilt, feel better about yourself, and as a result, get more done

Whether you’re a failing student, aspiring entrepreneur, stay-at-home mom, or just someone who’s constantly struggling for motivation – know that by following the information in Stop Procrastinating, you can overcome procrastination.

More importantly, you can finally realize your potential, go after your dreams, and enjoy life without constantly feeling guilty or stressed out.

Don’t wait. 

Even with overflowing inboxes and unmet deadlines, most people still can’t manage to take control of their time and stop procrastinating. The End of Procrastination tackles the problem head-on, helping you stop putting off work and reclaim your time. Author Petr Ludwig shows that ending procrastination is essential to developing a sense of purpose and leading a happier more fulfilled life.
With eight clear, approachable tools – from quick daily worksheets to shift your perspective to to-do lists that actually help you get things done. The End of Procrastination provides everything you need to change the way you manage your time and live your life.
The book will help you learn:
– The science behind why we postpone things
– How we can motivate ourselves so that we enjoy our work, feel less stressed, and focus more
– How to avoid becoming a goal junkie?a high achieving but the unsatisfied person
– How to organize your daily life and follow your vision
– How to acquire new positive habits and end bad ones
– How to cope with decision paralysis
Based on the latest research, The End of Procrastination synthesizes over one hundred and twenty scientific studies to create a program that is based on the way our brains actually work. By understanding exactly why procrastination happens and how our brains respond to motivation and self-discipline, the book provides readers with the knowledge to conquer procrastination on an everyday basis

In today’s world, yesterday’s methods just don’t work. Veteran coach and management consultant David Allen recognizes that time management is useless the minute your schedule is interrupted; setting priorities isn’t relevant when your e-mail is down; procrastination solutions won’t help if your goals aren’t clear. Instead, Allen shares with readers the proven methods he has already introduced in seminars and at top organizations across the country. The key to Getting Things Done? Relaxation.

Allen’s premise is simple: our ability to be productive is directly proportional to our ability to relax. Only when our minds are clear and our thoughts are organized can we achieve stress-free productivity. His seamless system teaches us how to identify, track, and-most important-choose the next action on all our tasks, commitments, and projects and thus master all the demands on our time while unleashing our creative potential. The book’s stylish, dynamic design makes it easy to follow Allen’s tips, examples, and inspiration to achieve what we all seek-energy, focus, and relaxed control.

Outsmart your lazy and undisciplined tendencies. Become a productivity machine and achieve your goals in record time. Procrastination is the monster that we are always running from, but not always successfully. It lurks around every corner, and can completely sabotage your life. But you can learn to defeat it every time. Stop wasting time. SAVE time and learn how to build momentum. The Science of Overcoming Procrastination is a deep dive into our tendency to push things until the last minute possible. It uncovers the biological and evolutionary science behind procrastination, and how we can beat these instinctual drives to triumph in our career and personal life. A plethora of studies is analyzed and put into illuminating contexts. Best of all, it’s a book of scientific solutions boiled down to everyday usefulness. You’ll be able to apply insight from this book immediately to slay your procrastination monster and get ahead of the pack. Eliminate stress, anxiety, and overwhelm over falling behind or failing. Patrick King is an internationally bestselling author and entrepreneur. His writing draws from a variety of sources, from scientific research, academic experience, coaching, and real-life experience. He has battled the procrastination monster his entire life and brings proven techniques to you. Discover discipline, willpower, and motivation that works for you.•A scientific and biological overview of your procrastination habit.•Warning signs to monitor your work ethic.•Psychological tactics to trigger your brain to productivity. Overhaul your approach to productivity and output.•How to structure and schedule your life to safeguard against procrastination.•Simple yet effective tactics to get off your butt and into action.•How to beat analysis paralysis and other causes of mental freezing. Get more done in less time so you can enjoy your life. Become the most reliable person you know. Break your habit of missing goals and letting people down. The ability to defeat procrastination is the ability to accomplish exactly what you want and gain access to wherever you want to go. Live your life instead of avoiding it!

Filled with charm, tongue-in-cheek wit, and the insights of a lifelong introspective dawdler, The Art of Procrastination is a philosophical self-help program for every reader who suffers the pangs of being a  procrastinator.

John Perry celebrates this nearly universal character flaw by pointing out how often procrastinators are, paradoxically, doers. They may not be accomplishing everything on their to-do lists, but that doesn’t make them slackers. It just indicates a need to rethink the to-do list. He also introduces the philosophical notion of akrasia (the mystery of why we often choose to act against our better judgment), examines the torturous relationship between procrastination and perfectionism, and shows how to give yourself permission to do an imperfect but, in fact, perfectly good job.

These are strategies—task triage, horizontal organization. Underlying causes—right-parenthesis deficit disorder. Anecdotes and ideas. But above all, an attitude of acceptance. Pat yourself on the back for what you manage to get done—but don’t stop enjoying that time you waste, too. Who knows where daydreams will lead?

This practical book is loaded with proven ideas to help you overcome procrastination and get more done.

-Brian Tracy, Author of the International Bestseller: Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time

A well-put-together informative book that brings awareness to disabling and habitual procrastinating behavior patterns. This is the best self-help book I have read in years!

-Kenneth Reddan Ph.D., LCSW

Are You A Human Ostrich?

Do you stick your head in the sand at the thought of dealing with a task that seems boring, complicated, or unpleasant? Do you pay your bills late because the last time you balanced your checkbook was more than six months ago? While working on a task do you keep thinking you should be dealing with a different task?

Is your living space messy and your life unorganized?
Do you clean up only when family or friends will be visiting-only to let your place fall back into untidiness after they’ve gone?
After you’ve cleaned for visitors, do you tell yourself “it doesn’t count!” because you weren’t doing it for yourself?
Have you stopped having visitors over because you’re ashamed of your mess?
Do you worry you’ll feel embarrassed if the landlord, a plumber, or a repairperson needed to visit your place?
Do you constantly compare yourself to people who seem to “have it together?”
Does your habitual procrastination leave you feeling depressed and anxious?
Do you know the 25 characteristics and behaviors of the human ostrich?
Are you concerned that your child or someone you care deeply about is becoming a habitual procrastinator?

The Solution To Your Habitual Procrastination Is Here!

Learn the golden rules of overcoming procrastination.
Stop falling victim to the downward cycle of procrastination and depression.
Stop feeling overwhelmed and immobilized with fear by learning how to effectively cope with your tasks and responsibilities.
Become a “do” -er by learning easy to use and highly effective new tool – The J.O.T. Method™.

About the Author:

David Parker suffered for years with depression and anxiety. During a particularly low point, he recalled a friend’s advice and started keeping a feeling diary. As time passed, he saw a connection between the tasks that he avoided facing and his poor feelings and low self-esteem. Armed with this insight, David taught himself to face his tasks and the overwhelming feelings they brought by learning to focus on Just One Task, which he incorporated into “The J.O.T. Method™.” David Parker has lived in London, San Francisco, and Brooklyn, New York.

This book was previously published as: How Many Procrastinators Does It Take to Change a Light Bulb: Take Control of Your Life and Defeat Immobilizing Depression! Unfortunately, some consumers found that title to be a bit too lighthearted and they questioned whether the book was serious. Its new title, The More You Do The Better You Feel: How to Overcome Procrastination and Live a Happier Life, better reflects its serious nature. To find out more about this book and the author, please visit our website at: www.DavidParkerAuthor.com.

The truth is: If you’re someone who procrastinates, then this bad habit is limiting your success in a variety of ways. If you don’t address this issue, then you’ll reduce the likelihood that you’ll achieve your major goals.

Procrastination can lead to a variety of negative life-altering issues like:

• Bad grades;

• Poor job performance;

• Unhealthy diet choices;

• Health issues, financial difficulties.

That’s why it’s critical that you focus on eliminating your procrastination tendencies by building what’s called “The Anti-Procrastination Habit.”

How to Stop Procrastinating is a straight-forward, systematic framework for building an action-oriented habit through all the areas in your life. In this book, you will discover:

• 8 Specific Reasons Why People Procrastinate.

• The 25–5 Rule (and How It Can Help You Laser-Focus on What’s Important)

• 6 Actions for Creating Actionable Goals That Motivate You

• How to Say No to People — Without Looking Like a Jerk

• 5 Ways to Plan Your Week, So Procrastination is Never an Option

• 14 Daily Practices to Overcome Those Sudden Feelings of Procrastination

Whether you’re someone who lets the occasional task slip through the cracks or you always do things at the last minute, you’ll discover an abundance of information to overcome your procrastination tendencies.