Book Summary Preview : The Now Habit

Chapter 1 - Why We Procrastinate

There are six warning signs that can tell you if you have a problem with procrastination. To find out if you have this problem, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Does your life feel like a long series of obligations that can’t be met?
2. Are you unrealistic about time?
3. Are you vague about your goals and values?
4. Are you unfulfilled, frustrated or depressed?
5. Are you indecisive and afraid of making mistakes?
6. Do you have low self-esteem and lack of assertiveness? If yes, do they hinder your productivity?

If you answered yes to most of the six questions above, you have a problem with procrastination.

A Positive View of the Human Spirit
Some people think that the reason why they procrastinate is because they are lazy. The Now Habit believes that people in fact procrastinate because they are protecting one’s self-worth. In other words, you procrastinate because you fear that something will negatively affect your worth or independence.

What are these fears? They are:

• The fear of failure.
• The fear of being imperfect.
• The fear of impossible expectations

Procrastination is Rewarding
One reason why people procrastinate too much is that procrastination gets rewarded. Here are some rewards people experience when they procrastinate:

• Procrastination reduces tension produced by certain tasks.
• Sometimes, by postponing a task you don’t want to do, the task is completed by someone else.
• By procrastinating and not going after an issue, you are able to cool off and avoid a serious argument.

Unfortunately, you can get used to the rewards of procrastinating. As a result, you might start using it often until it becomes a way of life. Often, procrastination is used in three ways:

1. To resist pressure from authorities.
2. To lessen the fear of failure.
3. To defend against the fear of success.