The 5 Best Books On Procrastination in 2021

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Best Books on Procrastination Blog Title

There are many reasons why we might procrastinate. Events can push our anxiety levels up, we might lack the motivation, or it could just be that we are mentally drained. Whatever the reason is, a lot of people resort to this as a way to avoid tackling difficult tasks that they have on their plate. But why do we procrastinate? What is the impact of this behavior? Furthermore, I will be suggesting the best books on procrastination that can improve your habit of procrastination.

What Is Procrastination?

The first thing to understand is that there are two types of procrastination: active and passive. Active procrastination involves an action (what you’re reading these words about), whereas passive procrastination involves a thought. The thought “I really should get started on this article” is passive, while the action “I’m just going to doze off for another half hour” is active. If you’re intent on procrastinating, chances are you’ve caused yourself pain by not doing what you have set out to do. Procrastination robs us of so much time; it can mean working late and missing out on family time, while at the same time, it can mean not getting important tasks over with.

TheBest Books On Procrastination

Fortunately, there are a lot of great books available to combat this discouraging habit.

Here is my top selection of best books on procrastination for 2021:

1. Getting Things Done by David Allen

best books on procrastination david allen getting things done
amazon.com

Instead of focusing on the negatives and what you should be doing, Allen focuses on what you’re doing well in this book. Focusing on your strengths can make you feel a lot better about yourself, which can result in less procrastination. This book is a comprehensive, life-changing guide that provides advice that helps you deal with everyday issues such as time management. Although this book takes a lot of hard work and dedication to learn, the rewards are worth it.

In Getting Things Done, Allen notes that people who are getting a lot done and busy with important tasks are often not doing the best they can. This is because they are not making time for the right things. He recommends creating a “To-Do List” so that it’s easier to get through them all when you feel overwhelmed with too many things to do. After you make your list, Allen recommends going through it and doing everything simple and easy. Then, take on the bigger projects and tasks but not just in one sitting. Instead, he recommends breaking them down into smaller, more achievable tasks, so they can be done faster.

If you are procrastinating on a task that will take a lot of time, he suggests reviewing your schedule to see if the task can be delegated or delegated to someone else. This way, you eliminate all the needless distractions that could come up during this time.

Aside from time management, getting things done also helps you build a strong foundation for the rest of your life. Allen believes that “time is plentiful” and that you can improve how you use it by using the five-second rule. For example, if you find yourself waiting for things to happen, you shouldn’t remind yourself that every action requires a decision. This suggests how it will be more efficient to do certain tasks that may be put off in the future.

Click here to buy Getting Things Done by David Allen

2. The Now Habit by Neil Fiore

best book on procrastination the now habit
amazon.com

It is important to understand that we don’t procrastinate because we are lazy; instead, procrastination is the symptom of a deeper problem. If you’re not sure how to deal with this behavior, Fiore’s book offers information on getting started. This includes using strategies like “the one-page plan” and “the two-minute rule.

The Now Habit is a motivational self-help book that looks at how we can improve how we live. For example, if you’re not using your time well, The Now Habit outlines a step-by-step journey to change this. The chapter on time management focuses on providing strategies to help you use your time more efficiently. This includes following the “one-page plan,” a strategy used by Fiore’s other book, called the Life Saver Principle, which will help you develop a simple way of managing your time.

The next strategy is the “two-minute rule,” which states that if you have wanted to do it for longer than two minutes, just do it. Again, this will help you stay on track and get what needs to get done.

Within his book, Fiore also outlines different strategies such as “the three-second rule,” which focuses on focusing on the present moment. He notes that this is dangerous, especially for those who are struggling with procrastination. The last chapter explores the “chunk your big, messy tasks into more manageable ones” and the “two-switch rule” designed to help you control your emotions to get over issues that you might be procrastinating on.

Fiore believes that we can’t be productive without being organized, and he provides a plan on how to do this. He emphasizes that you cannot be productive unless you are in control of yourself and how you spend your time. Fiore highlights the importance of listing out activities in a specific manner and organizing them so that they are easier to do.

Get your copy of The Now Habit here!

3. The ONE Thing by Gary Keller

best books on procrastination
amazon.com

Keller describes the steps involved in being “do-able,” which can help individuals avoid procrastination. First, he encourages readers to stop multitasking and focus on one thing at a time. The second step involves finding the right people to work with you to create the best product. Finally, Keller emphasizes that you should always be prepared for changes. You should also use your time wisely and get the task done while focusing on doing one thing at a time.

To help people make their priorities clear, Keller uses the “ONE Thing” (which stands for one-page outline) in his book. This is a concise plan that allows you to see the big picture of what needs to be done. It also helps you figure out how to get it all done by breaking down tasks into smaller steps and writing each piece of work on one page.

Keller’s final chapter explores whether busy people can achieve success while being less stressed and having more free time. This chapter also shows you how to manage your time effectively to use it to your advantage, rather than being a source of stress.

Keller recommends that people make their goals concrete and specific so they can be more organized. For instance, instead of saying that you will start working on your novel, say that you will write 500 words every day. In addition to this, he suggests scheduling time each day and set a timer for ten minutes. When the timer goes off, you should get everything was done that needs to be done.

Lastly, Keller notes that you can read your emails, listen to voicemails or other messages only once a day. Therefore, you should put off reading, listening, or responding to something until later in the day so that you can get it done sooner.

Click here to by The ONE Thing today!

4. Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday

daily stoic book on procrastination
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Holiday gives a number of behavioral suggestions that you can use to help you break the habit of procrastination. He notes that you should set aside time each day to make progress toward your goals. You can either write them down or commit them to memory to prioritize them and keep them in mind when making decisions. You should also stick to your plans, don’t get distracted, and try not to schedule your tasks, which will only make things harder for you later.

Holiday also recommends in the Daily Stoic that you adopt a new morning routine to have more time to handle your important tasks. While your morning is the most important part of your day, he says that it is also when most people waste the most time. One of his suggestions is to do a meditation every morning for ten minutes, regardless of what else you have going on. Another suggestion is to meditate before bedtime so that you can be active and productive throughout the day.

Holiday maintains that procrastination is a “form of self-sabotage” and that you need to overcome this feeling. He uses the analogy of a large ship in the ocean, noting that it has very little steering power while near the dock, but once it gets out into open water, it can’t be turned around without great effort.

Lastly, Holiday notes that you should spend a few minutes each day on a “premeditation” routine. You can write down what you’re grateful for, think about your goals, and visualize what it will be like when you achieve them. He notes that one often becomes tripped up because life is not as good as they imagined it would be when they achieved their dreams. To avoid this, he suggests that you imagine how bad things would have to get before you would give up on your dreams.

Get your copy of The Daily Stoic here!

5. Atomic Habits by James Clear

best books on procrastination
amazon.com

If you have ever thought about the fact that small habits control your life, then this book is for you. The author’s main focus is habit change. Thus making sure that we can stay in control of our lives and help our brains make better decisions.

Clear explains how to develop meaningful and good habits. He provides some useful tools and advice to improve your daily life. As a result, you can achieve remarkable changes in just 14 days. The author notes that you need to decide what works for you and stick to it. Instead of thinking about small details, Clear recommends that you focus on the big picture and stick to your routine.

Clear mentions the fact that procrastination comes from a lack of discipline and busy life. He notes that whatever method you choose, make sure it works for you. So you can make small but consistent progress toward your goals every day.

He also states that many people use the term “procrastinate” to refer to their mistakes or poor decisions. Instead, the author recommends that you use the term “delay” to refer to your mistakes or poor decisions.

Clear believes that self-discipline is the key to change in any habit. You need to keep an eye on your habits and follow them to make them work for you. If you stick with a habit, it will become automatic. Therefore, it becomes more difficult for you not to do things. According to Clear, you need to follow a routine and have a system in place to stick with your plan.

Clear believes that people can change their habits by changing the surrounding environments. He notes that many people cannot get things done. This is because of an environment that is not rewarding or where there are too many distractions. These environments are often examples of bad habits, which are hard to break. However, Clear states that you should focus on improving these environments. In order to have the motivation and determination for change within yourself.

Click here to check out Atomic Habits

Conclusion

Many people have problems with procrastination, which is the main reason they can’t reach their goals. Therefore, it’s important that you look into stopping procrastination in the most effective way possible. We have provided you with the best books for procrastination, tips, and advice to help you overcome this behavior.

To change your habits, you need to find a method that works for you and sticks with it. The methods we mentioned here are suggested by some of the best experts in the business. They have helped many people discover what makes them feel more productive.

Let us know what worked for you in the comments below.

Mandy Schmitz
Mandy Schmitzhttps://mandyschmitz.com
Mandy Schmitz is a freelance consultant and project management expert with 10+ years of experience working internationally for big brands in fintech, consumer goods and more. Join me here on Changeaholic.com to learn how to optimize your business operations and find the latest product & software reviews.

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Mandy Schmitz is a freelance consultant and project management expert with 10+ years of experience working internationally for big brands in fintech, consumer goods and more. Join me here on Changeaholic.com to learn how to optimize your business operations and find the latest product & software reviews.

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