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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Procrastination summary
Jane B. Burka & Lenora M. Yuen
Why You Do It, What to Do About It Now
4.1 (330 ratings)
17 mins
9 key ideas
Audio & text
What is Procrastination about?
Procrastination (1983) is a deep dive into procrastination – and why people struggle with it. Drawing on personal and professional experience, it offers a tested program and tips on how to conquer procrastination tendencies.
About the Author
Jane B. Burka, PhD, is a psychologist and psychoanalyst who specializes in procrastination, work inhibition, creative blocks, mood disorders, relationship issues, grief, trauma, and life transitions. She runs a private practice and is also on the faculty at the Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California.
Lenora M. Yuen, PhD, is a psychologist based in California. She organized the first US procrastination treatment group at the University of California, Berkeley, along with Jane Burka.
Table of Contents
Procrastination
summarized in 9 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 9
A Psychologically Complex Issue
While women tend to procrastinate less than men, it can affect everyone, in a range of occupations. Being self-critical and avoiding certain emotions, like fear and doubt, play surprisingly large roles in the behavior.
There are a lot of complex elements involved, which is why an instant change isn't often possible – you can’t just flip off your procrastination switch. But it is possible to reduce the behavior with time and effort.
It’s also worth mentioning that procrastination doesn’t equate to stupidity. When people procrastinate, they often put off an important task until the last minute. In that scenario, the work might be rushed or turned in late. The resulting consequences can make procrastinators feel bad about themselves and question their abilities – but it’s important to remember that the subpar work is a result of a habit; it doesn’t indicate anything about intelligence.
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Who should read Procrastination
- People seeking to understand why they procrastinate
- Compulsive procrastinators looking for ways to improve
- Friends or family of procrastinators who want to help
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