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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The Now Habit summary
Neil Fiore
A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play
20 mins
Brief summary
The Now Habit by Neil Fiore is a guide to overcoming procrastination and prioritizing self-care. It introduces the concept of "unscheduling" and encourages the reader to focus on positive affirmations to increase productivity.
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The Now Habit
Summary of 9 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 9
Procrastination is a strategy to avoid fear of failure.
Procrastination is a problem most of us are familiar with. In spite of its prevalence, procrastination is typically tied to very specific situations.
Usually, we procrastinate on work, that is, when there is a certain task we’re required to perform like writing a report, organizing a seminar or making a presentation in front of a team.
These tasks are all significant and not part of your routine. You don’t procrastinate going to the bathroom or answering a colleague who wants to take you to lunch, but you might put off starting an important presentation.
In fact, the types of tasks we procrastinate on usually have three important characteristics:
First, when you want to do a good job on something so you can live up to others’ and your own expectations.
Second, you find the work dull. It’s no fun and getting started, for example, writing the first page or filling up PowerPoint slides takes motivation.
Finally, it’s unclear what qualifies as a “good job”: you simply don’t know how to live up to others’ expectations and deliver a great presentation or write an outstanding report. What is “good?” What is “good enough?” And what if you pour your heart and soul into a project that completely fails?
When faced with these kinds of tasks, the inevitable consequence is a choice between two options:
If you start working on the task, you spend your time on something boring, plus you risk failing and disappointing both yourself and others as well.
If you don’t start working, you can avoid this boredom, uncertainty and the fear of failure.
So what do you choose? Most likely, you’ll choose the second strategy and delay the unpleasantness associated with your task. And, in a certain sense, it works: you learn that procrastination helps you avoid boredom and fear of failure – at least temporarily.
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What is The Now Habit about?
The Now Habit investigates a problem many people can relate to today: procrastination. Why do people put off important tasks until the last possible second? And how can they be helped? The Now Habit explains where this phenomenon comes from, and which mindset and tools can help us overcome it.
The Now Habit Review
The Now Habit (1988) is a valuable resource that offers practical strategies for overcoming procrastination and increasing productivity. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Packed with concrete techniques and tools, it equips readers with the necessary skills to break free from the cycle of procrastination and achieve their goals.
- By addressing the underlying causes of procrastination, it provides readers with a deeper understanding of their own behavior and empowers them to make lasting changes.
- Through insightful anecdotes and relatable examples, the book offers a fresh and engaging perspective on productivity, ensuring that readers won't find it boring.
Who should read The Now Habit?
- Anyone suffering from procrastination
- Anyone who wants to help a chronic procrastinator
- Anyone interested in self-management and personal development
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The Now Habit FAQs
What is the main message of The Now Habit?
The main message of The Now Habit is that overcoming procrastination is possible through specific strategies and mindset shifts.
How long does it take to read The Now Habit?
The reading time for The Now Habit varies, but the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The Now Habit a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Now Habit is worth reading for its practical techniques in overcoming procrastination and optimizing productivity.
Who is the author of The Now Habit?
The author of The Now Habit is Neil Fiore.
What to read after The Now Habit?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Now Habit, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Procrastination Cure by Damon Zahariades
- The Practicing Mind by Thomas M. Sterner
- The Procrastination Cure by Jeffery Combs
- The ONE Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
- Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy
- The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins
- Perfectly Confident by Don A. Moore
- Procrastination by Jane B. Burka & Lenora M. Yuen
- The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
- 168 Hours by Laura Vanderkam