Piers Steel

Procrastinators who understand the processes behind their inaction can master them and become less stressed about their deadlines and more able to meet them.

Never before in our history have there been so many temptations, as succulently devised, as readily available, and as adeptly marketed.

Very few succeed in major life reforms the first try; most of us need multiple attempts.

Break down the tasks that daunt you into smaller and smaller pieces. Keep formal track of your progress. Count your successes.

The history of procrastination likely began around nine thousand years ago, sprouting along with the invention of agriculture. Planting crops in the spring to reap them in the fall was our first artificial deadline; it was a task that civilization and survival required but not one we had evolved to perform.

Without impulsiveness, there wouldn’t be such a thing as chronic procrastination.

Don’t discount small gains, as over the course of a year, a 10-percent improvement in efficiency translates into more than an extra month of getting stuff done.

Intentions can even be used to implement other self-regulatory techniques, especially when expressed in an ‘If . . . then’ format.

Since its first appearance in the English language in the sixteenth century, procrastination has identified not just any delay but an irrational one—that is, when we voluntarily put off tasks despite believing ourselves to be worse off for doing so. When we procrastinate, we know we are acting against our own best interests.