Don't Delay

Do you spend time learning online? This new study on procrastination, learner participation in online discussions and course performance may interest you. There are certainly good suggestions for educators. Read More

Got 3 minutes to learn about how procrastination affects our financial lives? Read More

To what extent do you keep your promises to yourself even if later on you don't feel like doing what you had promised yourself to do? A recent study reveals the predictive power of say-do correspondence in relation to procrastination. Read More

Do you feel it's your duty to worry? If your answer to this question is "yes," you may be suffering from a type of compulsive behavior called dutiful worrying. A new book authored by another Psychology Today blogger explains why some of us become compulsive worriers and offers a four-step program to end this vicious circle. Read More

I might desire a piece of chocolate cake, but at the same time desire that I didn't desire it. This capacity to reflect on our desires and to have "second-order" desires reflects a notion of free will and raises the issue of weakness of will that helps us understand procrastination. Read More

We make different types of intentions. Some of us plan in great detail. Others leave their options open, but at the risk of opening something else as well . . . the Pandora's Box of deliberation and the potential for procrastination. Read More

I did an interview recently for an upcoming documentary entitled "The Science of Sin." Not surprisingly, I talked about sloth. Why it's considered sinful is worth some reflection. Read More

The most often-read essay about procrastination on the Internet is entitled "Structured Procrastination" written by John Perry, Professor Emeritus, Stanford University. John is also the co-host of the popular Philosophy Talk radio show. On January 30th, I joined John and co-host Ken Taylor (Stanford) to talk about procrastination. Here are some highlights. Read More

I just finished an interview with Michel Martin of NPR's "Tell Me More" program. Our discussion was focused on last-minute holiday shopping, pre-recorded for airing on Christmas Eve, as last-minute as possible, of course. With that in mind, I thought I'd summarize a couple of studies that focus on procrastination, planning and holiday shopping. Read More

If I lock the refrigerator to block my late-night snacking, I might have made a useful predecision to protect myself against my seemingly uncontrollable urges, but there's another route. I could try harder and exert my will. The "will" is an old notion that has resurfaced in an important way in recent writing about how we can resist procrastination. Read More

How can we more effectively avoid short-term temptations to achieve long-term goals? Two leading researchers argue that framing our goals with "width" and "consistency" makes a big difference. Read More

I love this cartoon. The imagery is simple. The implications are profound. There are the literal deep, and small, holes into which we might trip or fall while attending to something else. And, then there are our children, those "emerging adults," who populate our campuses. They are falling into their own deep holes. I'm very worried about them. Read More

My son will celebrate his third birthday on Sunday. Today, he taught me something about development and learning. He revealed how early in life temporal reasoning takes shape. The upshot was that I then realized how many of us are stuck at a very early level of maturation. Read More

I had my annual physical examination this morning. I've got a new doctor, so we had an interesting "get to know you conversation" that included a chat about what I study as a psychologist - self-regulation failure. It's a common interest to physicians, of course, because they know patients often fail to implement necessary health behaviors. One thing he said in particular surprised me. Read More