Mon, 31 August 2009  Perhaps the most frequently read essay on the Internet about procrastination, is Professor John Perry's (Stanford University) piece entitled, "Structured Procrastination." In this podcast I summarize Prof. Perry's argument and reflect on its strengths and the limitation of this approach. I know you'll like it, as Prof. Perry writes about how we can harness our task avoidance to actually get things done! In Perry's words, "what could be more noble than using one character flaw to offset the bad effects of another?"You can read Prof. Perry's essay at structuredprocrastination.com (you can even buy the t-shirt!). You can learn more about procrastination at procrastination.ca. Comments[1] |
Hello Mr. Pychyl,
I hope this message finds you well! I have been listening to your podcasts for about a month now at work. I assure you I'm not procrastinating whilst listening, I have my ipod playing while I work :)
I wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for how your podcasts have really opened my eyes to my habits of procrastination. I was one of those people that would admit to it and say I was a procrastinator, then do nothing about it and in turn feel so guilty, and continue to do nothing still! I would say 'that's just how I am'. But like I said, listening to your podcasts have really opened my eyes. While I still have many things to work on, like getting away from facebook (you really hit the nail on the head with that one!), I feel that I'm really on a great track to overcoming a lot of my bad habits. I am more mindful of my thoughts and now when I plan ahead I keep in mind my actions of the past and come up with backup plans for things that could happen and what to do in many scenarios so that I have NO excuses for not getting something done.
Your podcasts brighten my day as well and make me feel like I'm becoming a better person everyday because I am building that discipline muscle! I still find that I slip up and fall back into old habits but now instead of HOURS wasted, I may waste only a few moments or at most a half hour. I've begun to have the procrastination work for me too! If I'm avoiding one thing I need to do, I usually find that now I'm still doing something I need to do anyway. Any time I find myself not feeling like doing something that is so simple and mundane I tell myself it will only take a few minutes and it really has worked for me! I couldn't believe how something so simple and obvious works so well!
I could go on and on with how much progress I've made so far, but I think I've written a novella already! I just wanted to convey my appreciation and thanks because I really feel like this podcast is changing my life in so many good ways.
Thank you SO much, and please keep doing what you're doing! We need more people like you in the world!
Take care,
Danni Stone
Buffalo, NY
I hope this message finds you well! I have been listening to your podcasts for about a month now at work. I assure you I'm not procrastinating whilst listening, I have my ipod playing while I work :)
I wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for how your podcasts have really opened my eyes to my habits of procrastination. I was one of those people that would admit to it and say I was a procrastinator, then do nothing about it and in turn feel so guilty, and continue to do nothing still! I would say 'that's just how I am'. But like I said, listening to your podcasts have really opened my eyes. While I still have many things to work on, like getting away from facebook (you really hit the nail on the head with that one!), I feel that I'm really on a great track to overcoming a lot of my bad habits. I am more mindful of my thoughts and now when I plan ahead I keep in mind my actions of the past and come up with backup plans for things that could happen and what to do in many scenarios so that I have NO excuses for not getting something done.
Your podcasts brighten my day as well and make me feel like I'm becoming a better person everyday because I am building that discipline muscle! I still find that I slip up and fall back into old habits but now instead of HOURS wasted, I may waste only a few moments or at most a half hour. I've begun to have the procrastination work for me too! If I'm avoiding one thing I need to do, I usually find that now I'm still doing something I need to do anyway. Any time I find myself not feeling like doing something that is so simple and mundane I tell myself it will only take a few minutes and it really has worked for me! I couldn't believe how something so simple and obvious works so well!
I could go on and on with how much progress I've made so far, but I think I've written a novella already! I just wanted to convey my appreciation and thanks because I really feel like this podcast is changing my life in so many good ways.
Thank you SO much, and please keep doing what you're doing! We need more people like you in the world!
Take care,
Danni Stone
Buffalo, NY
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