Procrastination

Active procrastination: Thoughts on oxymorons

By Timothy A. Pychyl, Ph.D. on July 3, 2009 - 1:12pm in Don't Delay

Oxymoron - a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction. We are all familiar with common oxymorons: jumbo shrimp, boneless ribs, deafening silence or sweet sorrow, for example. Here's my favorite, "active procrastination." These terms are not just apparently contradictory, the term reveals a problem in understanding the difference between procrastination and delay. Read More

Self-regulation and symptoms of impulsivity

Why are you so impulsive?

A writer's advice - Just get started

What does it take to make it as a freelance writer?

Thirteen Tips for Actually Getting Some Writing Done.

Thirteen tips for actually getting some writing done.

The Latest

Active procrastination: Thoughts on oxymorons

By Timothy A. Pychyl, Ph.D. on July 3, 2009 - 1:12pm in Don't Delay

Oxymoron - a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction. We are all familiar with common oxymorons: jumbo shrimp, boneless ribs, deafening silence or sweet sorrow, for example. Here's my favorite, "active procrastination." These terms are not just apparently contradictory, the term reveals a problem in understanding the difference between procrastination and delay. Read More
After an especially good deed, are you destined to sin?

By Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D. on June 29, 2009 - 12:22am in The Science of Willpower

Have you ever experienced do-gooder exhaustion? When you've done the right things for so long, you just need to indulge your inner sinner? Or when you've given so much to others that you want to save something for yourself? Read More
11 Types of Bad Writing Advice

By Susan K. Perry, Ph.D. on June 27, 2009 - 3:03pm in Creating in Flow

All advice is suspect. I'm not suggesting you break all the so-called rules of creativity you've collected. Only that every tip can be counteracted with its opposite. And some advice is just plain bad for you. Here, then, are 11 types of advice to avoid: Read More
Repulsion - A step towards more successful self-regulation?

By Timothy A. Pychyl, Ph.D. on June 26, 2009 - 6:09pm in Don't Delay

A pediatrician who reports being helpless against the forces of a chocolate chip cookie has something to teach us all about self-regulation. Read More
Self-regulation and symptoms of impulsivity

By Timothy A. Pychyl, Ph.D. on June 23, 2009 - 1:48pm in Don't Delay

"I spend a lot of time thinking about my own strengths and weaknesses."
"I often compare myself with other people."
If these statements describe you, you may be interested in the results of a new study that indicates that you are more likely to be impulsive and anxious. Read More
Eye Candy

By Shelagh Robinson, Ph.D. on June 23, 2009 - 7:11am in Vitamin Eye

Eye candy is, by definition, good-looking people: Sweet to stare at, they tempt us with their addictive visuals. But the term has another meaning, especially when we remember that our brain's primary fuel is sugar. Eye candy is also a special kind of mutual gaze -- one that is dense with energy, sends our pleasure chemicals surging, and looks absolutely delicious. And it's good for you. Read More
Stop Trying So Hard, Sell More?

By Susan K. Perry, Ph.D. on June 18, 2009 - 3:04pm in Creating in Flow

By trying to emulate the greats, you may find yourself blocked and your would-be publishers leery. So says Larry Beinhart, whose novel Wag the Dog was made into the popular movie starring Robert de Niro and Dustin Hoffman. My interview with Beinhart revealed details of his sales-oriented approach to writing, and why his latest, Salvation Boulevard, wasn't an easy sell. Read More
A writer's advice - Just get started

By Timothy A. Pychyl, Ph.D. on June 18, 2009 - 4:38am in Don't Delay

A freelance writer speaks about the secret to success. His message, avoid avoidance. Read More
Anticipating one's troubles: The elusive benefits of negative expectations

By Timothy A. Pychyl, Ph.D. on June 15, 2009 - 1:18pm in Don't Delay

"He who suffers before it is necessary suffers more than is necessary" (Seneca, Roman essayist, philosopher, playwright, C. 4 B.C.- A.D.65) A recent study in the journal Emotion provides support for the cost of anticipating one's troubles. It's a cost and kind of suffering procrastinators know all too well. Read More
Why Do This?

By Timothy P. Lisagor on June 9, 2009 - 9:53am in Am I a Psychologist?

So you're convinced that Psychology is for you. Let's go through a short checklist to ensure you have considered all that is graduate study in Psychology. How far will you go? Will a master's degree suffice, or do you want to pursue the PhD or the Psyd? What are the pros and cons of each? Read More
Thirteen Tips for Actually Getting Some Writing Done.

By Gretchen Rubin on May 29, 2009 - 8:07pm in The Happiness Project

One of the challenges of writing is...writing. Here are some tips that I've found most useful for myself, for actually getting words onto the page: Read More
If you want to succeed, don’t tell anyone.

By Art Markman, Ph.D. on May 28, 2009 - 6:16am in Ulterior Motives

I am a regular reader of the New York Times obituaries. Read More
Procrastination and a "good death"

By Timothy A. Pychyl, Ph.D. on May 20, 2009 - 3:36am in Don't Delay

It's common to procrastinate about having some conversations. Death is one of these. The trouble is, "there are many costs of not having this conversation" (Evans, May 19, 2009). Read More
Job Security: To love your work whether you've got work or not

By Jeremy Sherman, Ph.D. on May 19, 2009 - 8:02am in Ambigamy

I play bass and sing in jazz combos. Unlike rock, where band members stay together for years if they can stand each other, jazz gigging is more like pickup softball games. You get a call asking if you can make some café gig and if you can, you’re often meeting fellow players for the first time while setting up for the show. Read More
Meaning to get to it: Procrastination and the art of life

By Timothy A. Pychyl, Ph.D. on May 15, 2009 - 1:09pm in Don't Delay

One of my favorite Canadian philosophers has written in defense of procrastination, or so it would seem. In the end, I think he stumbles around notions of delay and procrastination, finally arriving at the impetus for action noting that, ". . . I might as well stop putting life off for later. Because that's what I've been meaning to do, that's what I've been meaning to be." Therein lies his title, "meaning to get to it." This is profoundly important, I think. Read More
Get energized about your future…just compare it to your life now.

By Art Markman, Ph.D. on May 13, 2009 - 10:53am in Ulterior Motives

It is easier to set goals than to achieve them. Setting goals requires only thinking about the future, and envisioning what you would like that future to be. If you want to learn to sing, you can imagine yourself as a successful singer and how rewarding it would be to sing for a group of people who are enjoying your music. If you want to become a better student, you can think about studying or passing tests or getting a good report card. Actually satisfying your goals, though, requires effort. It requires the energy to move forward and actually carry out a plan to achieve the goal.
Where can that energy come from? Read More
Carpe Momentum

By Monica Ricci on May 11, 2009 - 10:21am in Get It Together

Action action, we want action! A-C-T! (clapclapclap) I-O-N! I'm soooo not a cheerleader. I admit, I tried out in sixth grade but just wasn't quite good enough to make the squad. Damn those pretty girls! (No worries, I got over it.) Read More
Borderline Personality Disorder is Real - Part I. Diagnostic Validity

By Eric A. Fertuck, Ph.D. on April 27, 2009 - 11:36am in Science at the 'border'

The most savage controversies are those about matters as to which there is no good evidence either way.

- Bertrand Russell, British author, mathematician, & philosopher (1872 - 1970)
Read More
Increasing emotional intelligence, decreasing procrastination

By Timothy A. Pychyl, Ph.D. on April 14, 2009 - 7:04am in Don't Delay

A study published this month demonstrated that a 4-week program increased emotion identification and management. Our most recent research revealed a strong negative relation between emotional intelligence and procrastination. This may be a new avenue for procrastination intervention. Read More
This Writer's Tricks Are Not for You

By Susan K. Perry, Ph.D. on April 11, 2009 - 3:52pm in Creating in Flow

Cees Nooteboom is a delightfully quirky Dutch novelist (Lost Paradise), poet, and travel writer (Nomad's Hotel: Travels in Time and Space). The delights his work offers the reader are easily matched by a conversation with him. When we discussed his creative process, my first question was, "Have you had a fiction-writing experience where you lose track of time?" His answer wasn't what I expected... Read More

Procrastination Blogs

Understanding procrastination and how to achieve our goals.
By Timothy A. Pychyl

Procrastination Basics

Everyone procrastinate sometimes, but 20 percent of people are true procrastinators. They consistently avoid difficult tasks and deliberately look for distractions, which, unfortunately, are increasingly available. Procrastination in large part reflects our difficulty in regulating emotions and to accurately predict how we will feel tomorrow, or the next day.

Go to the Procrastination Basics page for more on Procrastination including:

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