Procrastination
by Jane B. Burka, Lenora M. Yuen, Ph.D, Jane B. Burka, PhD, Lenora M. Yuen, PhD, Sandra Burr · first published 1983
78% recommend22% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Explores the psychological roots of procrastination, including perfectionism and self-image, rather than just offering productivity tips; suits people who keep stalling and want to understand why.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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There is not a singular cause for procrastination. I've mentioned it many times on HN, but I think it's again relevant to recommend "Procrastination" by Burka & Yuen.[1] Half the book is spent helping you investigate the root cause or causes of your…
on “Dear procrastinator” ↗While I do think "stop making excuses and just ship" is correct advice, I'm not sure how useful it is to you. You sound like you have a procrastination and/or executive function problem. I highly recommend reading a book called Procrastination [1]. The first step in changing your behavior is understanding why your behavior is the way it is. This is not…
on “Ask HN: How to see a piece of hackage through from start to finish?” ↗Please consider reading a book called Procrastination [1] instead of articles like this. From the product page: "Based on their workshops and counseling experience, psychologists Jane B. Burka and Lenora M. Yuen offer a probing, sensitive, and at times…
on “Little Book of Procrastination Remedies” ↗Much of the article (and Hosh's comments) resonated strongly with me. I fall into the category that had quite a bit of therapy before making real progress on my procrastination. In my case, the key to the puzzle has been cultivating compassion for myself and others--especially myself! :) A great book if you want more exploration of the emotional roots of procrastination is…
on “To Stop Procrastinating, Start by Understanding the Emotions Involved” ↗If you are into the psychological aspects of procrastination, I've found the book Procrastination by Burka and Yuen [1] an amazing read. Perfectionism is one of the themes but apparently there can be multiple, independent sources. [1] https://www.amazon.com/Procrastination-Why-You-What-About/dp...
on “Procrastination is connected to perfectionism” ↗That's also been my experience. There is a really good book that can help you get a handle on why precisely you procrastinate: "Procrastination: Why You Do It, What to Do About It" by Jane Burka and Lenora Yuen. It was published in 1983, but I still haven't seen a better one on the psychology of why people procrastinate. EDIT: The problem is…
on “Ask Entrepreneurs: Productivity tips for a chronic procrastinator?” ↗…Recommended: 4 Steps to the Epiphany by Steve Blank - breaks down the customer development lifecycle into actionable deliverables. Do you feel like you're not being productive or shipping? You should read about procrastination and then diligently work to fix it, not spend more time studying GTD-type systems. Recommended: Procrastination by Jane B. Burka and Lenora M. Yuen - the essential book on understanding and correcting…
on “Ask HN: Best books, blogs, podcasts on shipping more/being more prolific?” ↗…prescription to. Poor organization, personality conflicts, attitude issues, perfectionism, and poor self image will make even the most well-rested and healthy person underperform at work. I highly recommend "Procrastination: Why You Do It, What To Do About It" by Jane B. Burka and Lenora M. Yuen and "Getting Things Done" by David Allen for a deeper examination of these issues and some solutions.
on “How can we get willpower back once it has been depleted?” ↗Have a look at the book "Procrastination - Why you do it, what to do about it now" by Jane Burka and Lenora Yuen.
on “Ask HN: How do you motivate yourself to do un-motivating work?” ↗…- Cory Doctorow (This was gifted by a friend and really inspired me to make some significant changes in my life. That includes the decision to learn to code and escape the user end of the spectrum.) Procrastination- Jane B. Burka , Lenora M. Yuen (This book has fundamentally altered my introspective conclusions. That is to say, I am now more aware of times when I am procrastinating and the impact it has on my life.)…
on “Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011” ↗> http://www.amazon.com/Procrastination-Why-You-What-About/dp/... Yeah that looks really great. I've bookmarked it. I'll check it out soon. Maybe tomorrow ...
on “Ask HN: How to see a piece of hackage through from start to finish?” ↗Our sources are diverse. To name a couple: Procrastinator's Digest by Timothy Pychyl, The Now Habit by Neil Fiore, Procrastination by Jane Burka (lengthy), Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg, ... There's more - a technique from here, an insight from there...
on “Show HN: I made an interactive anti-procrastination video course” ↗