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The Procrastination Equation

Everything you wanted to know about procrastination but put off finding out.

Procrastination
Shoot for Now, Ask Questions Later

Piers Steel Ph.D. on March 31, 2016

Deadline gorillas. They chase us to get that assignment done or to fill in tax returns. Zap'em dead with hyperbolic discounting.

Deadline gorillas. They chase us to get that assignment done or to fill in tax returns. Zap'em dead with hyperbolic discounting.

Career
Living in the Candy Store

Piers Steel Ph.D. on July 14, 2015

Taking responsibility for yourself sometimes means taking responsibility for the world you live in. Change where you are and change who you are. The latest generation of technological assists do that exactly that, helping you march to your own tune and do the work you think is important.

Taking responsibility for yourself sometimes means taking responsibility for the world you live in. Change where you are and change who you are. The latest generation of technological assists do that exactly that, helping you march to your own tune and do the work you think is important.

Leadership
How Ebola Won The Election for Conservatives

Piers Steel Ph.D. on November 10, 2014

There's a natural fit between concerns and political values. Where liberals are the party of promotion, conservative are the party of protection. So why should democrats emphasize Ebola in their election campaign? Simply put, they shouldn't... ever, and paid the cost. The psychology of why this is so is covered here.

There's a natural fit between concerns and political values. Where liberals are the party of promotion, conservative are the party of protection. So why should democrats emphasize Ebola in their election campaign? Simply put, they shouldn't... ever, and paid the cost. The psychology of why this is so is covered here.

Motivation
If You Met All Your Goals Today, This Article Is Not for You

Piers Steel Ph.D. on May 18, 2014

Smarter than SMART goals, this describes a research program to develop an online app that trains you how to make goals that have the maximum motivation and science theoretically allows.

Smarter than SMART goals, this describes a research program to develop an online app that trains you how to make goals that have the maximum motivation and science theoretically allows.

Smoking
When Self-Blackmail Becomes Blackmail

Piers Steel Ph.D. on October 3, 2013

Precommitment can be changed from self-blackmail, where you try to get yourself to follow through on your intentions, to just plain old blackmail. This can happen any time you have a referee to help enforce the precommitment and a legitimate reason for violating your own rule. Worse case scenario? The financial destruction of an entire nation.

Precommitment can be changed from self-blackmail, where you try to get yourself to follow through on your intentions, to just plain old blackmail. This can happen any time you have a referee to help enforce the precommitment and a legitimate reason for violating your own rule. Worse case scenario? The financial destruction of an entire nation.

Self-Control
The Two Faces of the New Year

Piers Steel Ph.D. on January 3, 2013

New Year's Resolutions are one of the finest traditions that Western society has produced. And psychological research indicates that the very act of making one is one of the easiest ways to improve yourself, providing you do it the right way.

New Year's Resolutions are one of the finest traditions that Western society has produced. And psychological research indicates that the very act of making one is one of the easiest ways to improve yourself, providing you do it the right way.

Procrastination
Procrastination, Precommitment and The Fiscal Cliff

Piers Steel Ph.D. on December 30, 2012

James Madison, the Father of the Constitution, wrote about how psychology can fix the workings of government. With a little help from psychology, we can make the fiscal cliff work as intended.

James Madison, the Father of the Constitution, wrote about how psychology can fix the workings of government. With a little help from psychology, we can make the fiscal cliff work as intended.

Deception
Lying and Procrastination

Piers Steel Ph.D. on July 30, 2012

I’ve lied to myself plenty because it was easier to. At least at first. Confronting ones own lies is hard to do because if you believe them, you think there are no lies to confront in the first place.

I’ve lied to myself plenty because it was easier to. At least at first. Confronting ones own lies is hard to do because if you believe them, you think there are no lies to confront in the first place.

Procrastination
How to Become a Procrastinator

Piers Steel Ph.D. on July 12, 2012

There are a stubborn 5% of people who say they procrastinate very rarely or not at all. If you find yourself aberrantly efficient, don’t feel left out. Here is a top ten list to help you put off until tomorrow what you should be doing today.

There are a stubborn 5% of people who say they procrastinate very rarely or not at all. If you find yourself aberrantly efficient, don’t feel left out. Here is a top ten list to help you put off until tomorrow what you should be doing today.

Motivation
Breaking the Pain Barrier

Piers Steel Ph.D. on July 8, 2012

To push themselves to the pain threshold and then far beyond, competitive cyclists employ a pretty nifty technique — micro goal-setting. Here are four tricks they use and the science behind them.

To push themselves to the pain threshold and then far beyond, competitive cyclists employ a pretty nifty technique — micro goal-setting. Here are four tricks they use and the science behind them.

Mating
Rag Doll Rising

Piers Steel Ph.D. on June 22, 2012

An edgy and unique production on whether positive belief leads to desired outcomes. Quite possibly, you have never seen anything like before. No profanity or nudity but still not for everyone.

An edgy and unique production on whether positive belief leads to desired outcomes. Quite possibly, you have never seen anything like before. No profanity or nudity but still not for everyone.

Self-Control
Losing Weight Effortlessly With Visual Illusions

Piers Steel Ph.D. on March 3, 2012

When temptation strikes, our willpower works overtime to try and drive the unhealthy / distracting cravings out of our head, or at least to stop us from acting on them. It doesn't have to be this hard, though. In fact, it doesn't have to be hard at all.

When temptation strikes, our willpower works overtime to try and drive the unhealthy / distracting cravings out of our head, or at least to stop us from acting on them. It doesn't have to be this hard, though. In fact, it doesn't have to be hard at all.

Procrastination
Da Vinci, Copernicus and the Astronomical Procrastination of

Piers Steel Ph.D. on February 3, 2012

Science is actually progressing somewhat slower than predicted. For example, the 1982 classic Blade Runner, voted favorite SciFi film by scientists, has genetically engineered organic robots filling the streets by 2019. Its not going to happen on schedule and procrastination is probably to blame.

Science is actually progressing somewhat slower than predicted. For example, the 1982 classic Blade Runner, voted favorite SciFi film by scientists, has genetically engineered organic robots filling the streets by 2019. Its not going to happen on schedule and procrastination is probably to blame.

Fantasies
Thought for Food

Piers Steel Ph.D. on January 2, 2012

We all know what we need to do to shed the weight: eat less and exercise more. Knowing isn't the problem, it is doing. Science has come with a few new techniques to help us control our minds, so we can control our bodies.

We all know what we need to do to shed the weight: eat less and exercise more. Knowing isn't the problem, it is doing. Science has come with a few new techniques to help us control our minds, so we can control our bodies.

Environment
From Snow Gloom to Snow Doom: The Psychophysics of the Snow

Piers Steel Ph.D. on December 28, 2011

A Personal Perspective: When Weh-Ming Cho decided to sell his snow blower, he wasn't just selling the snow blower. He was selling "A Tribute to Man's Triumph over Nature."

A Personal Perspective: When Weh-Ming Cho decided to sell his snow blower, he wasn't just selling the snow blower. He was selling "A Tribute to Man's Triumph over Nature."

Career
Beyond the Coffee Crutch: The Secret to Vitality at Work

Piers Steel Ph.D. on December 8, 2011

What's the number one reason for procrastinating? Survey says: low energy. Tackling tasks or chores when we are already tired is a surefire recipe for putting stuff off. So if you are tired of feeling tired, read on.

What's the number one reason for procrastinating? Survey says: low energy. Tackling tasks or chores when we are already tired is a surefire recipe for putting stuff off. So if you are tired of feeling tired, read on.

Procrastination
Occupy Wall Street, Procrastination and the Battle of Ideas

Piers Steel Ph.D. on October 26, 2011

The Occupy Wall Street crowd is characterized as angry but directionless. They feel economic injustice is being done but don't agree about who is to blame and what to do. Consequently, they might be easily appeased by having a few peripheral players going to jail. Too bad. The real source of troubles wasn't hiding anywhere. I see it everyday.

The Occupy Wall Street crowd is characterized as angry but directionless. They feel economic injustice is being done but don't agree about who is to blame and what to do. Consequently, they might be easily appeased by having a few peripheral players going to jail. Too bad. The real source of troubles wasn't hiding anywhere. I see it everyday.