Recommended: The Procrastinator’s Handbook
The Procrastinator’s Handbook was a great book. I read it, dwelt on it, thought about it, intended to write a review of it, but, well, I never got around to it.
The thing is, you shouldn’t let that stop you from reading a copy of this book. Even though some of my habits haven’t changed, the book has helped me cope with my procrastinating ways and helped me change several keys areas of my life that lead to procrastination.
I downloaded the book from the R.E.A.D.S. database, and if you have a library card and an internet connection, you might want to give it a shot. If not, then consider buying the book from Amazon
I recommended The Procrastinator’s Handbook because…
The author of The Procrastinator’s Handbook: Mastering the Art of Doing it Now, Rita Emmett, sums up the beauty of this book in her introduction.
People who benefit from time management are like a group that has decided to go on a bicycle journey. They know where they want to go; their bikes are all ready, and time management principles are like the map or directions they need to set off on their adventure.
Then along comes the group of procrastinators meandering down the road. They haven’t decided yet where they want to go, and they’ve forgotten to bring their bikes, which don’t work anyway because they haven’t gotten around to fixing the flat tire. Maps and directions (time management principles) are of little use to this group. They need something different, so for them I developed my Conquer Procrastination seminars and wrote this book.
When people take my seminars, often the first questions they ask are: “Can a person really stop procrastinating?” “How can people expect to change their basic personalities or character traits?”
Procrastination is not an inherent part of your personality or character; it is simply a habit, an attitude. Can people change habits? Of course they can! Millions of people have stopped smoking, even though that habit is extremely hard to break. Can people change attitudes? Sure. Do you know anyone who used to think owning a VCR or sending E-mail was unnecessary, yet now — several years later — can’t imagine living without either?
I speak about procrastination from personal experience because I used to put off everything.
I most enjoyed her sections on identifying what types of procrastinator I am in what situations and then applying her suggestions for changing the patterns that keep me procrastinating.
