Comments on: Review: The Procrastinator’s Handbook

By: Puissance

Puissance — Thu, 22 May 2008 17:11:19 +0000

I actually bought this book at a book sale a few months ago. I haven’t read it yet! After reading this, maybe I will look into it.

By: Philipp Grunwald

Philipp Grunwald — Tue, 20 May 2008 00:42:42 +0000

Would you recommend buying the book if I’ve read “The Now Habit” and have internalized all the GTD principles (although I haven’t read his book yet but will read it) or doesn’t it come up with any extra value in this case?

Thanks for your help in advance. Kind regards,

Philipp Grunwald

By: K

Mon, 19 May 2008 16:24:20 +0000

a bit off topic, but where do you get your hair cut or do you do it yourself? We bought a pair of clippers and have saved about $150 this year on my husband’s haircuts.

By: jm

jm — Mon, 19 May 2008 14:25:19 +0000

I find another thing that makes me procrastinate is physical location. Sometimes there’s a lot of distractions in my immediate environment and I end up doing something else, for example playing video games when I’m supposed to be working from home or being distracted by my dog.

So I have alternate locations I can go to that have everything I need to get my work done minus the distractions. If I need to get out of the office, instead of working from home I’ll go to a common room in the building.

By: Jules

Jules — Mon, 19 May 2008 06:34:47 +0000

I like lists: I make a list of to-do things, that include EVERYTHING I need to do, from the everyday mundane things like scooping cat poo and meals, to the big things like what I have to do at work. It doesn’t always work–sometimes there are things that pop up, but as a matter of course it’s immensely gratifying (at least, to an anal-retentive person like me) to cross off things.

By: Michiko

Michiko — Mon, 19 May 2008 03:40:59 +0000

Personally I found Julie Morgenstern’s books was more effective in dealing with my procrastination than this one.

By: DB

DB — Mon, 19 May 2008 01:11:13 +0000

I’m very much a list-oriented person. I enjoy making lists, keeping track of information, etc.

When I face a day or weekend of tasks, I take a few moments to inventory everything I want to accomplish. The list motivates me. As I complete each task, I get the simple pleasure of putting a line through that item. Eventually there are only a few tasks remaining, and I’m driven to clear the list! Works for me!

By: David Carter

David Carter — Mon, 19 May 2008 00:39:06 +0000

Yes, procrastination hurt me a lot at college this semester. Sometimes I am real good and don’t procrastinate, but then I go for periods where I just don’t care and procrastinate a lot. Sometimes it just feels good to get things done early. I usually end up doing a much better job.

By: Jillian

Jillian — Mon, 19 May 2008 00:33:42 +0000

Sounds like a good book. I might get around to reading it one day. But today I need to wash my hair.

By: Ann at One Bag Nation

Ann at One Bag Nation — Mon, 19 May 2008 00:23:39 +0000

I recently read a book called Coach Yourself to Success by Talane Miedaner.

One of the chapters I found most interesting was called “Eliminate All Those Petty Annoyances” and is similar to your point #2 above. Just thinking about getting that list down on paper gave me some relief – it’s funny that little things like shaggy hair or a squeaky door can really weigh you down after a while.

I appreciate your book reviews – very thorough without being too long!
Ann

By: Andy

Andy — Sun, 18 May 2008 23:28:05 +0000

It definitely sounds a lot like Getting Things Done. That is why I just want to be retired – not so I can stop doing things and being productive, but so I can have the freedom to do whatever I feel like doing at any given moment.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sun, 18 May 2008 22:25:29 +0000

I’m laughing out loud. I have SO much to do, including a dissertation. Know what I do some days instead? Read my favorite blogs, and this is one of the first ones I turn to.
:)
Its a nice distraction when the studying gets too intense.

By: GinnyBerry

GinnyBerry — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:17:09 +0000

I am finishing up my thesis. I can relate to many of the things your described in your post. The simple truth is that it has been difficult for me to stay focussed since I had my stroke, but I look at the immediate and long term benefits of completing this paper and I find that I must do it. Now.

I have a lot of good reasons to finish:
1. It will be off my back.
2. Finishing it means that I’ll have a nice big pay raise immediately, ($6.000. this next year, and every other year I teach.) This will have a big impact on my retirement income.

#4 is the chapter that I can relate to the most.

Well, back to the task at hand. Writing.

Blogging is so much more fun.