Don't Delay

Procrastination

How Negative Thoughts Relate to Procrastination

Timothy A Pychyl Ph.D. on March 8, 2018

Procrastination is a negative form of delay related to anxiety, depression, and psychological distress. Recent research puts special emphasis on the role of rumination.

Procrastination is a negative form of delay related to anxiety, depression, and psychological distress. Recent research puts special emphasis on the role of rumination.

Self-Control

What Best Predicts Goal Attainment?

Timothy A Pychyl Ph.D. on January 30, 2018

How's that New Year's resolution diet going? Self-control letting you down? A recent study shows the experience of temptation and the resulting depletion are the real culprits.

How's that New Year's resolution diet going? Self-control letting you down? A recent study shows the experience of temptation and the resulting depletion are the real culprits.

Procrastination

Emotion Regulation Skills Reduce Procrastination

Timothy A Pychyl Ph.D. on April 26, 2017

Procrastination is an emotion-focused coping strategy. We avoid some tasks in order to avoid the emotions they evoke. New research explains how to reduce procrastination.

Procrastination is an emotion-focused coping strategy. We avoid some tasks in order to avoid the emotions they evoke. New research explains how to reduce procrastination.

Procrastination

Procrastination, Depression and Creativity

Timothy A Pychyl Ph.D. on January 19, 2017

A brief post to highlight a recent podcast and a book that anyone troubled by procrastination will want to listen to and read, respectively.

A brief post to highlight a recent podcast and a book that anyone troubled by procrastination will want to listen to and read, respectively.

Media

Facebocrastination: New Research on the Perils of Facebook

Timothy A Pychyl Ph.D. on August 11, 2016

A new study in the journal Computers in Human Behavior underscores the self-control challenges of social media. Learn about the effect of students' Facebook habit on well-being.

A new study in the journal Computers in Human Behavior underscores the self-control challenges of social media. Learn about the effect of students' Facebook habit on well-being.

Procrastination

Culpably Unwarranted Delay: Is There an App for That?

Timothy A Pychyl Ph.D. on July 15, 2016

Once it becomes clear that procrastination involves a mens rea (guilty mind), significant opportunities for intervention come into view.

Once it becomes clear that procrastination involves a mens rea (guilty mind), significant opportunities for intervention come into view.

Self-Control

The Poison Tendrils of Negative Emotions

Timothy A Pychyl Ph.D. on July 13, 2016

A recent research summary argues that negative emotions poison every aspect of successful self-regulation. Understanding this process is key to understanding procrastination.

A recent research summary argues that negative emotions poison every aspect of successful self-regulation. Understanding this process is key to understanding procrastination.

Procrastination

Procrastination 101: It's Not About Feeling Like It

Timothy A Pychyl Ph.D. on July 11, 2016

I don’t feel like it. I don’t want to. I’ll feel more like it tomorrow. Have you had these thoughts? Ever heard your children say these things?

I don’t feel like it. I don’t want to. I’ll feel more like it tomorrow. Have you had these thoughts? Ever heard your children say these things?

Motivation

Strength Versus Structure

Timothy A Pychyl Ph.D. on April 26, 2016

Strength is important. We may even say it’s essential, but it’s not sufficient. It’s structure and routine that will save us when the going gets tough.

Strength is important. We may even say it’s essential, but it’s not sufficient. It’s structure and routine that will save us when the going gets tough.

Emotion Regulation

Mindful Emotion Regulation

Timothy A Pychyl Ph.D. on April 1, 2016

Mindfulness-based therapies are very popular, and all have a common goal – adaptive emotion regulation. As such, they are a key route to reducing procrastination.

Mindfulness-based therapies are very popular, and all have a common goal – adaptive emotion regulation. As such, they are a key route to reducing procrastination.

Cognition

I Was Just Thinking In My Head

Timothy A Pychyl Ph.D. on March 21, 2016

“I was just thinking in my head.” Have you heard anyone say that? I have, quite often. Not limiting ourselves to our own heads can help reduce procrastination.

“I was just thinking in my head.” Have you heard anyone say that? I have, quite often. Not limiting ourselves to our own heads can help reduce procrastination.

Procrastination

Procrastination as a Virtue for Creativity: Why It's False

Timothy A Pychyl Ph.D. on January 18, 2016

A recent Op-Ed in the New York Times outlined how procrastination is a virtue for creativity. The problem is the essay wasn’t about procrastination at all.

A recent Op-Ed in the New York Times outlined how procrastination is a virtue for creativity. The problem is the essay wasn’t about procrastination at all.

Procrastination

Laziness and Procrastination

Timothy A Pychyl Ph.D. on January 13, 2016

"I am so lazy." What should we think of this?

"I am so lazy." What should we think of this?

Procrastination

"I'll Do It Later" – Children's Academic Procrastination

Timothy A Pychyl Ph.D. on January 12, 2016

Procrastination starts early in life and often centers around homework. Research highlights the role of motivation.

Procrastination starts early in life and often centers around homework. Research highlights the role of motivation.

Procrastination

Academic Procrastination And Academic Achievement

Timothy A Pychyl Ph.D. on January 5, 2016

We can all probably recall a time when we procrastinated but still managed to "pull it off." We may even know a high-achieving procrastinator. Memorable, but not typical.

We can all probably recall a time when we procrastinated but still managed to "pull it off." We may even know a high-achieving procrastinator. Memorable, but not typical.

Fear

Fear and Shame on New Year's Day

Timothy A Pychyl Ph.D. on January 1, 2016

The Roman god Janus, for whom January is named, had two faces. One looked back to the past; the other looked forward. As we do this today, let's talk about how this makes us feel.

The Roman god Janus, for whom January is named, had two faces. One looked back to the past; the other looked forward. As we do this today, let's talk about how this makes us feel.

Motivation

New Year's Resolutions Lack Resolve

Timothy A Pychyl Ph.D. on December 30, 2015

I think there’s a certain irony with the notion of New Year’s resolutions. Typically, I hear people state vague goal intentions that lack any sort of resolve.

I think there’s a certain irony with the notion of New Year’s resolutions. Typically, I hear people state vague goal intentions that lack any sort of resolve.

Self-Help

Self-Help Or How to Live a More Meaningful Life?

Timothy A Pychyl Ph.D. on December 14, 2015

Self-help books based on scientific evidence have been shown to be very effective, but should we focus so narrowly on a single issue like procrastination?

Self-help books based on scientific evidence have been shown to be very effective, but should we focus so narrowly on a single issue like procrastination?

Media

Social Media, the Network Effect and Procrastination

Timothy A Pychyl Ph.D. on December 7, 2015

There’s an army of growth hackers working in the tech industry to hook you deeply into social media. Their job is to break down your self-regulation. The result? Procrastination.

There’s an army of growth hackers working in the tech industry to hook you deeply into social media. Their job is to break down your self-regulation. The result? Procrastination.

Procrastination

Procrastination, Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease

Timothy A Pychyl Ph.D. on December 1, 2015

Personality traits can confer risk. This recent study documents how procrastination is a factor for poor adjustment to and management of hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

Personality traits can confer risk. This recent study documents how procrastination is a factor for poor adjustment to and management of hypertension and cardiovascular disease.