Fuschia M. Sirois - Procrastination: What It Is, Why Its a Problem, and What You Can Do About It

No one on the planet knows more about procrastination than Fuschia Siroisher groundbreaking research has transformed how we understand its roots and remedies. In this engaging book, she presents the state of the science and offers practical insights to help you stop putting things off. Postpone reading it at your own risk.

ADAM GRANT, PHD, #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THINK AGAIN AND HOST OF THE TED PODCAST WORKLIFE

A superb book written by a scholar with more than 2 decades of groundbreaking research helping us understand how procrastination undermines our well-being and health. Dr. Sirois provides clear explanations about the many factors that contribute to our procrastination combined with practical exercises to facilitate change. This is a book that can help you end self-defeating delay in your life.

TIMOTHY A. PYCHYL, PHD, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, CARLETON UNIVERSITY, OTTAWA, ON, CANADA, AND AUTHOR OF SOLVING THE PROCRASTINATION PUZZLE: A CONCISE GUIDE TO STRATEGIES FOR CHANGE

I have seen too many people who have had their lives ruined by procrastination. Fuschia Sirois has provided a valuable book that reflects her unparalleled understanding of what causes procrastination and what needs to be done to address it. The practical suggestions and exercises found in this book will restore the hope of procrastinators who decided long ago that they would never be able to escape their tendency to make life more difficult. People who are desperate for help will certainly benefit from this book.

GORDON L. FLETT, PHD, PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY, YORK UNIVERSITY, TORONTO, ON, CANADA

This book is a valuable companion to individuals struggling with procrastination. Fuschia Sirois provides insights into the unique psychological processes of procrastination. Self-compassion and self-forgiveness are presented as two innovative starting points to overcoming procrastination.

PROF. DR. CAROLA GRUNSCHEL, PROFESSOR OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF MNSTER, GERMANY

Now is the time to revisit the science and solutions of procrastination. In this readable and friendly book, Dr. Sirois updates and expands information on the causes, consequences, and curse of procrastination based on psychological science. Its a good read, for those who want to end procrastination now.

JOSEPH R. FERRARI, PHD, ST. VINCENT DEPAUL DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY, DEPAUL UNIVERSITY, CHICAGO, IL, AND AUTHOR OF STILL PROCRASTINATING? THE NO-REGRETS GUIDE TO GETTING IT DONE

Copyright 2022 by the American Psychological Association. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, including, but not limited to, the process of scanning and digitization, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Electronic edition published 2022.

ISBN: 978-1-4338-4034-0 (electronic edition).

The opinions and statements published are the responsibility of the authors, and such opinions and statements do not necessarily represent the policies of the American Psychological Association.

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Cover Designer: Mark Karis

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Sirois, Fuschia M., author.

Title: Procrastination : what it is, why its a problem, and what you can do about it / Fuschia M. Sirois.

Description: Washington, DC : American Psychological Association, [2022] | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021059060 (print) | LCCN 2021059061 (ebook) | ISBN 9781433838064 (paperback) | ISBN 9781433840340 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Procrastination.

Classification: LCC BF637.P76 S57 2022 (print) | LCC BF637.P76 (ebook) | DDC 179/.8--dc23/eng/20211217

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021059060

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021059061

https://doi.org/10.1037/0000302-000

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book would not have been possible without the collective wisdom on procrastination uncovered by counselors and scholars in the field, such as Burka and Yuan, who through their experienced lens of counseling psychology aptly noted the important role of emotions in procrastination years before the scientific research community got on board with this idea.

Im also eternally grateful for the support, inspiration, and encouragement of my long-time mentor (and friend) Tim Pychyl, who was the first to introduce me to this intriguing field. It was his curiosity and compassion for the phenomenon of procrastination that inspired me to steer my research toward the complex and troubling waters of understanding procrastination.

Lastly, this book would not have been possible had it not been for the encouragement, humor, and support of my husband, Mike. Whether as a sounding board for ideas, offering help and feedback on the illustrations, or just to hear me rant when I was struggling with the writing, without him I would probably be someone wanting to read a book like this rather than being the one writing it.

INTRODUCTION

I dont see how he can ever finish, if he doesnt begin.

Lewis Carroll, Alices Adventures in Wonderland

Do you know someone who procrastinates? For many of us, the answer to that question involves taking a quick, and maybe guilty, look in the mirror and an uncomfortable yes. But dont despair: You are not alone. Procrastination is unfortunately something that most of us are familiar with. Weve either experienced it firsthand or observed it in others. And its something we want to stop. We would rather feel energized and productive when we make progress on a project or proud when a coworker or family member accomplishes what they set out to do. That is where this book can help.

If procrastination is more than just an occasional lapse for you or someone you know in your personal or professional life, then this book is for you. As you will discover while reading this book, procrastination can have negative and often serious effects across many different areas of life. The consequences of procrastinationwhich can range from work performance and productivity, to academic life, personal relationships, finances, and even physical and mental healthare far from trivial, especially when procrastination has become routine. So, if you are someone who manages employees, assigns academic work, counsels people on their finances, provides support and guidance on physical or mental health, or simply wants to be more understanding of and compassionate toward the people you know who procrastinate, then this book is also for you.