It's good to be practical when reaching for goals, but here we once again have the approach to procrastination which sees it as an organizational issue, not an emotional one (which it is for a huge number of people). They could break down their goals however you like and still fail to achieve them.

As a psychologist who wrote a book on overcoming procrastination, the issue here is that the solution is sought out among the symptoms of procrastination (being disorganized), not its causes. No one starts procrastinating for no reason and this behavior and emotions that follow it quickly become embedded in a person. This might be anxiety, but it might be a range of other things as well.

If organizing and breaking down tasks works for you, that awesome. However, if it is not working, the way to resolve procrastination might place through a process of emotional awareness and acceptance. It can help a person to slowly grow out of this behavior. As this takes place, the person gradually wastes less time and the behavior is less and less intensive.

The process is not fast or effortless, but I believe its results are both sustainable and long-lasting.

Edit: Some asked about the book, it's called Using Psychology To Stop Procrastinating and you can find it on Amazon.

As a psychologist, I completely agree with this concept. People might tend to think that being hard on yourself is a way to boost productivity, but in the long run, it's almost always harmful. Negative judgment of any kind is a mechanism that stops a person from changing and growing, which is how procrastination (or any other emotional issue) is gradually resolved.

The process of mindfulness and then acceptance is the way that leads towards changing the same time-wasting behavior. I wrote a short book on using these principles to overcome procrastination - in my experience, it tends to provide individuals with a different perspective (like the NY Times article) than the regular notion that wasting time is an organizational or self-control problem.

Thanks for checking this out! If you like to read more of my thoughts on motivation and productivity, check out my book on using psychology to overcome procrastination.

Thank you for checking it out! As a psychologist and an author, I've tried to help people become more productive (I even wrote a short book on how simple psychology can help in overcoming procrastination). In all cases, I really do believe that small steps lead to great things, but that path is not always clear for the person on that journey. However, the same possibility is there for everyone.

Sure thing and thanks for reading! In my professional experience - I'm a psychologist and an author - mindfulness is a huge tool whenever you can use it. Wasting time is no exception, which I saw first hand with many clients who had trouble with it. I even wrote a short book on how procrastination can be resolved through this process.

In your case, I believe the issue might be the part where you are forcing yourself to do anything - maybe try not to force yourself. Force can often produce the direct opposite result and lead to people remaining the same when they force themselves to change. Instead of any pressure, simply keep that mindfulness in the mix of all other feelings and ideas floating about. Allow it to gradually shows itself as useful and beneficial instead of overpowering that role upon it. It takes time and (gentle) effort, but it does work.

Not so sure about all of this - for me, it boils down 'Pull yourself up by your bootstraps' wisdom where you transform yourself into your own drill sergeant.

But, to live is to wonder and ask questions, to seek out answers, even though they likely won't mean what we want them to. It's to be full of doubts and insecurities, to be riddled with dilemmas about how and what should be done. Yet, all of that does not have to be a barrier to a happy and fulfilled life.

Being all action, all of the time might work for some and that's great. But, for the rest of us, the idea should not be to kill off that insecure and doubtful part of our consciousness but to listen to it and try to work with it, (edit: I wrote a short book how this process can be used to overcome procrastination) while not allowing ourselves to be governed by it either.

Getting Things Done (GTD) is a classic for a reason. When I've implemented it I had the "mind like water" that the author puts as a goal. The other thing I love about it is that it allows for bottom up organization. You can just dive in and use it to better your life immediately. Lots of books want you to sit down and plan you perfect life before you can use the system. This doesn't do that and that's great.

How to win friends and influence people is another classic. I've been impressed with the people who took dale carnegie courses and the book has some good stuff in it, though I haven't re-read it recently so I'm not sure how actionable it is.

The Tools is a great book. It isn't for everyone and every part isn't for everyone. But it gives 5 actionable brief mental exercises that do what they purport to do. Each exercise or Tool is designed to counter a specific problem many people have. The authors are therapists and the Tools come from their practices. Many of them are very woo sounding, but if its stupid and it works then it ain't stupid. Every Tool I've used has worked, often shockingly well. But I haven't used them all because they don't all apply to me.

I agree with many elements of the article, especially about the causes of procrastination being emotional, not organizational.

However, as a psychologist who wrote a book on overcoming procrastination, I believe that the article once again diverts into organizational means of stopping this behavior. At the same time, it provides general advice like to sleep well which is fine, but usually, these don't help that much people who are heavy procrastinators.

For me, the issue here is that once again, the solution is sought out among the symptoms of procrastination, not its causes. No one starts procrastinating for no reason and this behavior and emotions that follow it quickly become embedded in a person. This might be anxiety, but it might be a range of other things as well. Yet, living is dealing with parts of us we find bothersome, burdensome or something worse, but which we can't just shut off.

This is why I believe that resolving procrastination takes place through a process of emotional awareness and acceptance. It can help a person to slowly grow out of this behavior. As this takes place, the person gradually wastes less time and the behavior is less and less intensive.

The process is not fast or effortless, but I believe its results are both sustainable and long-lasting.

Hey all, thanks for reading! I'm a psychologist and a author who works on productivity - here's my book on how being in the present moment can help you overcome procrastination https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CXBRSVM

Thanks once more!

Thank you so much for upvoting this! I'm a psychologist, counselor, and author I made this poster because I really believe that mindfulness and acceptance of past experience are essential for the ability to grow and overcome our personal issues. These issues almost always include the perceived mistakes of the past, which are also a valuable learning opportunity.

This is especially true for things like procrastination. Here, emotional self-awareness is crucial and in my book on how psychology can help in overcoming this issue, I use it as the first step. A very similar mechanism applies to the notion of past mistakes and the choice every one of us has - use them as weights that pull us down or balloons that can help us rise.

Hope we all find a way to do the second thing!

Sometimes I invite people over just so my place will get clean... jk but also it's kinda true.

I throw this book out here on this sub constantly (still waiting for my kickbacks...) but Susan Pinsky's book for organizing with ADHD literally changed my life. I'm still a hot mess, but everything is easier to clean and keep organized. I started going crazy when I transitioned to working from home full time. I need a clean environment to work but everything in my nature works against that. Her book really seriously truly helped me get things to a better baseline.

I can't link for some reason in-text, but here's the amazon link https://www.amazon.com/Organizing-Solutions-People-Revised-Updated-ebook/dp/B007ETD7GO

Thank you so much for upvoting my poster! I believe that emotional self-awareness is crucial in almost any aspect of life. If you'd like to learn more about that concept, check out my book on using psychology as a means of overcoming procrastination. Thanks!

Thanks you so much for the Helpful Award and also for checking out this poster I made! I'm a psychologist and an author, so I both worked with and wrote about procrastination. If you'd like to know more about that, check out my book on using simple psychology as a means of overcoming procrastination.

Thanks once more!

There are basically a billion book / internet article / discussions about this issue in relationships. This is one of the most recent ones that presents a possible strategy, of course it assumes that both parties are willing to cooperate

Fair Play https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NTX84PY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_9JHK0YGJWV15283C94FF

I will say that it sounds like you're talking about two different issues... One is the burden of being the Household CEO, The other is the the actual execution of the tasks. Messing up the cooking with just 3 tries (it can be improved!)! is ok but the household CEO thing is a different issue.

I do agree that no matter how this all plays out, it's going to be Worth it to your household to hire a once-weekly professional cleaner. BTW, In addition to the entire internet being available to teach someone about household chores and cooking, if your H a written book about how to maintain household chores and cleanliness, there's "home comforts" and "Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook:" both of which are very gendered but do contain instructions about how to do stuff like sorting laundry and how full to make the washing machine.

Losing motivation because you are over your limit is an early warning sign of burnout. You aren't lazy, you are stretched thin, you are stressed out due to loss, you have a lot going on right now. In fact, there's even a good case for the idea that Laziness Does Not Exist (great book).

The social media and phone addiction could be a way your body and mind is desperately seeking to self-regulate. It definitely does not work, but in lieu of a more effective way to manage your emotions and stress levels and actually recharge your batteries, that will keep coming up until you meet the deeper need.

I would suggest experimenting with scheduling in activities that you think might be truly restorative, whatever those are for you: deep relaxation exercises, a professional massage, walking in the woods, etc. See if this helps with the motivation issues or phone addiction. If it's still an issue at that point, it might be a matter of simply using apps to block out distractions.

I actually just heard from an author who wrote a book about this, Fair Play.

I dig that you're partners are all so willing to help. Agreed that it's been socialized into us as girls as it's OUR JOB - on top of everything else.

Thank you so much for reading and upvoting, but especially for the Wholesome Award!

When I'm not making posters, I'm also a psychologist and an author. If you'd like to read more of my work on personal development, check out my book on using psychology as a means of overcoming procrastination. Thanks once more!

Thanks for upvoting my poster, I'm glad you like it! If you'd like to know why self-awareness is so useful in other domains of our lives, check out my book on using emotional mindfulness as a means of overcoming procrastination. Thanks once more!

Glad you like it and find it useful! As a psychologist and a writer, I'm very interested in overcoming emotional and personal obstacles in our everyday lives - I even wrote a book on overcoming procrastination. In this case, I believe that overcoming issues often resides on the difficulties we conquered in our past. That way, our personal history keeps building upon itself and that structure allows us to push on and overcome new challenges.
Thanks again and good luck!

I just read a newspaper article talking about this book, and how it can help you balance housework and domestic duties within families. Its not only a book I think there are "playing cards" with it as well to facilitate the conversation. Perhaps it will be useful..

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https://www.amazon.com/Fair-Play-Game-Changing-Solution-When-ebook/dp/B07NTX84PY

It's kind of tangential, but I'd recommend checking out the book Deep Work by Cal Newport. He talks a lot about the need for downtime and quiet time.

Thank you so much for upvoting my poster! I'm a psychologist and an author - the idea presented here is the cornerstone of a short book I wrote. Feel free to check it out and find out how to use simple psychology as a means of overcoming procrastination. Thanks once more!

Thank you so much, glad you like it! I have been working for some time now on concepts of productivity and setting goals as psychologist and an author (I even wrote a short book on overcoming procrastination). That is why I really believe that effort and committeemen in a process is crucial to success of any kind.

Thank you so much for upvoting my poster! I'm a psychologist and an author - check out my book on how to use simple psychology as a means of overcoming procrastination. Thanks once more!

Thank you for the upvotes! I believe that emotional self-awareness is crucial in almost any aspect of life. If you'd like to learn more about that concept, check out my book on using psychology as a means of overcoming procrastination. Thanks!

I completely agree with the idea of not beating yourself up - this accomplishes nothing and only hinders the process of gradually overcoming any issue, including procrastinating. I'm an psychologist and an author - that concept of not focusing negative emotions towards oneself is one of the key elements of my short book on overcoming procrastination.

Thank you for upvoting my poster! If you'd like to know why being in the present moment and self-aware of yourself in it is so useful, check out my book on using emotional mindfulness as a means of overcoming procrastination. Thanks once more!

Procrastinating too much? Maybe my ebook could help https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CXBRSVM I'm selling it for $2.99 and Amazon labels it as a one-hour read.

Of course, if you want to read it and can't afford to buy it, send me a message and I'll send you a free copy!

Procrastination is stopping you from working on your dream venture? Check out my eBook and find out how you can stop it:

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Using Psychology To Stop Procrastinating

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One-hour read based on the principle of humanistic psychology, $2.99 on Amazon. The solution it offers is neither fast or easy, but over time should provide an improvement that will (hopefully) lead to the overcoming of the same issue.

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Also, if you want to read it and can't afford it, let me know and I'll be happy to send you a free copy.

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Redditors that got a free copy so far: 3

Redditors that got follow-up/upsell pitches about anything: 0

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Thanks! Yes, the book is out on Amazon and you can check it out here https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CXBRSVM

Absolutely, any creative process is integrative in this sense and asks for plenty of different (and even seemingly non-related) experiences. Of course, this is not the case for everyone, but for the majority, there needs to be this blend of working, not working and everything else to get to a point where they're both productive and feel good about the work/themselves.