Index

filing cabinet organization, 191–92

“first things first” attitude, 193

fixes, quick, 2

floating away from reality

description of, 97–99, 218

diversions while, 100

feelings while, 99

grounded or tied down vs., 97

insecurity blankets and, 101, 220

The J.O.T. Method™ vs., 127

mental and physical effects of, 99–100

mental muscle weakness and, 99–100

free time, 12, 22–23, 80

frustration/less frustration, 71–72, 157–59, 220

getting by lifestyle, 38

getting-over-on-others practices, 37–38

goals, 69, 155–57

Golden Rules of overcoming habitual procrastination

always keep promises you make to yourself, 109–10, 115

avoid being a perfectionist, 123–25

avoid giving yourself vague or conflicting instructions, 112–15

avoid harsh or improper/inappropriate self-statements, 116–19

description of breaking, 127–30

learn to face your overwhelming feelings, 121–23

remember procrastinators find excuses for not “do”-ing, 121

respond to your tasks in a logical way, 115

set self-esteem development as goal for accomplishing tasks, 116

take the pressure off by developing patience, 125–26

try not to compare and despair, 110–12

understand there will be consequences for your in-actions, 119–21, 221

grade-school procrastinators, 205–7

See also habitual procrastination; human ostrich; student procrastinators

grounded or tied down vs. floating away from reality, 97

habits

the force of positive, 176

setbacks, and changing long-held, 153–54

habitual procrastination

conflicts in life and, 12

as coping mechanism, 41–42, 153

cycle of procrastination and, 29–33, 103–5, 115

depression, and connection with, 27–28, 33

description of, 3

“do”-er person compared with, 1, 34–37, 110–12

feelings diary and, 27–29, 219

getting by lifestyle of, 38

getting-over-on-others practices of, 37–38

internal resistance and, 71, 208–9

laziness compared with, 15–17

reasons for, 3, 38–39, 43–44

reminders of procrastination and, 29–33

stress and, 39–43

summary of, 44, 198–99, 217–18

true personalities vs. characteristics of, 53

See also characteristics of human ostrich; conflicts in life; Golden Rules of overcoming habitual procrastination; human ostrich; student procrastinators

helpless and hopeless feelings, 3, 94, 96

home-life procrastination

conflicts in life and, 11–15

light housecleaning starter-tasks and, 106, 190–91, 222

housecleaning

conflicts in life and, 14–15

starter-tasks, and light, 190–91

human ostrich

aspects of, 54–55, 74, 198–99, 221

depression as liability and, 45–46

fear, and description of, 50–51

as learned response, 51

perception of activities and, 47–50

summary, 51

See also characteristics of human ostrich; conflicts in life; Golden Rules of overcoming habitual procrastination; student procrastinators

impatience, 60–61, 71–72

See also patience

in-actions, consequences for your, 119–21, 221

inadvertent errors using The J.O.T. Method™

abbreviated entries and, 144

“do”-ing more while writing less and, 144–47

improper/inappropriate self-statements, 137–38

improper or conflicting instructions and, 139

organization of little things, 147

perfectionism and, 138

rewriting improper or conflicting instructions and, 139–44

uncompleted tasks and, 148–50

See also The J.O.T. Method™ (“just one task” at a time technique)

inner procrastinator fed by outer procrastination characteristic, 74

insecurity blankets and diversions, 101, 220

internal resistance characteristic, 71, 208–9

Internet surfing, 162