Procrastination: Why You Do It, What to Do About It

Rating:
Summary: don't put off reading this book!
Review: I bought this book YEARS ago, maybe as many as ten years ago. Ironically enough, it took me three years to finally read it! Really. But I'm glad I finally read it. It helped me understand why I procrastinate, and provided some useful strategies to overcome it. I became a better student, worker, friend and family communicator. I've recommended it to lots of folks. In fact, I was just looking to buy a copy for a friend of mine and thought I'd take the opportunity to further spread the word about this wonderful book.

Rating:
Summary: Don't put off reading this one
Review: I finally finished this book after putting it off several times, and I'm a terrible procrastinator. I think it is helpful to learn why we procrastinate in order to understand these behaviors and then change them. I recognized myself in so many of the sample situations desribed and the explanations behind such actions.

The second part contains a lot of helpful techniques, such as breaking a big project into more manageable chunks, or deciding to work on one chapter of a book at a time that needs to be finished.

I really have to reread the second part though (What to Do About [Procrastination]) because I unfortunately haven't changed my habits yet. (In fact, I should be working right now but I'm writing this review.) So until then I can't really say if it helps or not, but Part one was eye opening to me. I also appreciate that the book was written by two die-hard procrastinators who were able to overcome the habit.

Rating:
Summary: don't put off reading this book!
Review: I'm a clinical psychologist, university professor and professional coach and one of my main specialties is helping people combat procrastination and writer's block. This is the first book I recommend to people who want to reform self-defeating habits of procrastination.

Burka and Yuen present sophisticated explanations of the many reasons why we habitually delay important but unpleasant activities. Then, in the second half of the book, they provide tips and tactics to help us overcome procrastination.

This book is psychologically sophisticated and one of the few self-help books that I've read with understandable explanations of why our bad habits develop and why they are so difficult to extinguish. The paralyzing fear of failure is vividly outlined. Less obvious, to most of us, and very well explained here, is how we may be ambivalent about succeeding. The reasons that some people procrastinate in order to rebel are described - for some of us, hostility may be a factor. On the other hand, Burka and Yuen illuminate ways that we may use delays to remain secure and comfortable. These many methods of self-sabotage really got me thinking when I first read the book, and have led to many insights and changes in the students and coaching clients I work with.

In the section on taking action, Burka and Yuen suggest ways to evaluate areas of difficulty, set priorities, manage time, organize activities, reduce stress, enlist support from others, follow through on efforts to change, and achieve goals.

The book is well-written, and provides clear and compelling examples. When I first read this book more than a decade ago, it helped me get my own dissertation done. I'm delighted that it is still in print. I frequently recommend it to the graduate students I teach, the faculty I coach, and the people I work with in psychotherapy.

Rating:
Summary: It worked for me.
Review: My friends and family would classify me as a procrastinator. Yes, I have put unpleasant things off to the point that I experienced even more unpleasant consequences. I read this book with the intention of learning why I procrastinate and hopefully to pick up some tips on how to stop doing it. But the more I read and the more I thought about it, the less I was willing to label my behavior as "bad" or even detrimental. Instead, I came to the conclustion that our society has reached the level of absurdity in the demands we put on individuals. What we call procrastination is sometimes the result of choosing to claim some small portion of your life to do some things that you WANT to do. When life consists of nothing more than an impossibly long list of obligations, that never allow for a moment of rest and relaxation, some of us rebel against it, and take that time, and say "to hell with the consequences". That's not to say that this book doesn't give some insight into human behavior. It certainly does. I just reach different conclusions than the authors.

Rating:
Summary: Finally learn WHY you're procrastinating
Review: Reading this book was like reading a book about myself. I've procrastinated a little more than average throughout my life, but since I started college, I've procrastinated A LOT...so much that it's often gotten in the way of my studies. So I found this book at my school's library and read it (and then bought it). Now I understand why I procrastinate and I know several good techniques how to stop..and I've improved..but I'm not free yet. It's no joke: I continue having serious troubles quitting my procrastination habits when I'm in school. Well, I have a two-step piece of advice for you if you suffer from procrastination: (1) buy the book (it's really cheap) and (2) overcome procrastination WITH ACTION. ACTION is the ONLY way you will ever break free.

Rating:
Summary: A good book for beginning of the end of procrastination
Review: This book really looks at the source of procrastination, and illustrates that this behavior can be overcome. It caters to the self-esteem, and gives encouraging support for dealing with procrastination once and for all. It explains how to with it yourself, as well as how to manage others who procrastinate. It also demonstrates the devestating effects of procrastination on a persons life.
I thought it was very easy to read, except one part where you finally get too anxious and have to skip ahead. I suggest fighting the urge to skip Part 1, because it's true that the techniques in Part 2 aren't sufficient without understanding why you procrastinate.

Rating:
Summary: one other thing...
Review: Yes, I did review this book before and I feel the need to add another consideration. As I mentioned before, this book is great at helping you learn WHY you procrastinate. However, it's not the best for helping you learn to STOP procrastinating. Although Burka and Yuen did a great and important job in helping you learn the "whys," they could have done significantly better on the "hows" to stop. A good book that will help you learn to stop procrastinating is Neil Fiore's "The Now Habit." This book's focus is much, much more about learning new behaviors to stop procrastinating than the Burka & Yuen book. If you have the time, I suggest you buy and read both. However if time is of essence, just buy the Fiore book. And about me, here's an update: Although I'm not free yet, I can tell you I've made a conscious decision to not be a victim of my circumstances. I'm in a difficult curriculum at my school because I chose to -- I'm exactly where I want to be right now in my life. And, by letting go of procrastination and becoming a producer, I'm going to show everybody just how good I really am. After all, this is my life. I am in control -- and this is my choice.