Procrastination Equation Using Motivational Science to Maximize Your Health Wealth & Happiness

Using a mix of psychology, science, self-help, and a decade of groundbreaking research, Dr. Piers Steel, internationally recognized as the foremost authority on procrastination, explains why procrastination is dangerously on the rise and tells us how to overcome the destructive patterns that affect our health and happiness to create more positive lives.

If you think you are not one of the 95 percent of those of us who procrastinate, take Dr. Steel's test in The Procrastination Equation. Or if you think you procrastinate because you're a perfectionist—you're wrong. So, why do we surf the Web instead of finishing overdue projects? Why do we say we'll start that diet—tomorrow? Why do we stay up late watching television instead of going to bed? And how do we overcome these bad habits that we know work against our best intentions? Based on more than a decade of research, and written with humor, humanity, and solid science, The Procrastination Equation explains why we do what we do—or, in this case, don't—offering answers to such questions as:

• Are we biologically hardwired to procrastinate? If so, why?
• How does procrastination cost us?
• What tricks do we play on ourselves when we procrastinate at work, school, and home?
• If visualizing our dreams isn't enough to make them real, then what steps must we take?

Along the way, Dr. Steel dispels the myths and misunderstandings of motivation and procrastination, replacing them with a clear explanation of why we put off until tomorrow what we should be doing today. He then offers specific techniques we can use to tame and prevent the bad habits that adversely affect our health, happiness, and careers, all the while celebrating the very human foibles that make us who we are. The Procrastination Equation is the definitive and accessible guide for anyone who struggles with this age-old dilemma.

"In his absorbing first book Steel looks closely at the oft-misunderstood habit of procrastination. Usually seen as laziness, procrastination stems from the mismatch between human evolution and modern society. Steel, a reformed procrastinator who calls procrastination his 'life's work,' studied the subject by conducting original research and analyzing hundreds of published cross-discipline studies. His carefully crafted volume describes what he calls the 'intention-action gap' and explains why so many people are driven to delay. Early chapters, from 'Portrait of a Procrastinator' to 'The Economic Cost of Procrastination' take the reader on a vivid tour of the consequences of procrastination and analyze why humans are wired to wait. Though Steel is perhaps too abstruse in describing the results of some findings, most of his writing is clear, never more so than when associated with the biology underlying procrastination. 'Action points' offer practical advice for readers who have identified their procrastination tendencies. Though some of the author's tools are self-help book staples, Steel adapts them to his subject. His engaging guide will appeal to a wide audience of past, present, and future procrastinators and researchers trying to get a handle on the science of putting things off. (Jan.)" Publishers Weekly Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

“A useful, eye-opening book.” Booklist

“An upbeat, motivational guide to procrastination. . . . Everything you ever wanted to know about procrastination but never got around to reading.” Kirkus Reviews

“The Procrastination Equation will teach you how to bust the excuses that are preventing you from doing your best work and living your best life. . . . So dont put it off any longer. Read this book. Today.” Daniel H. Pink, author of < i=""> Drive <> and < i=""> A Whole New Mind <>

“Procrastination is the saffron spice of human behavior, where even small amounts of this tendency can shatter the best of intentions. In this illuminating book Piers Steel shows us the secrets of procrastination, how it affects us and how we will, one day, be able to prevail.” Dan Ariely, author of < i=""> The Upside of Irrationality <> and < i=""> Predictably Irrational <>

“Procrastinating just makes unpleasant tasks worse, so why is it so hard for us to resist dithering and delay? The Procrastination Equation is crammed with surprising insights about procrastination and human nature -- as well as concrete, helpful solutions for fighting procrastination.” Gretchen Rubin, author of < i=""> The Happiness Project <>

“The Procrastination Equation is this seasons must-read self-help book. In addition to offering useful strategies to fight a common problem, its a fascinating read.” < i=""> Montreal Gazette <>

“I put off writing this blurb ‘til the last minute. I thought it was because I was too busy but after reading The Procrastination Equation, I know the real reasons. Piers Steel will help you tackle the goals . . . that always seemed . . . out of reach.” Richard Florida, author of < i=""> The Great Reset <>

“Why you ‘put off till tomorrow what you can do today forms the crux of Steels book, in which he not only answers that question but details specific techniques to reign in the impulse. . . . Offers good advice.” Library Journal

“The Procrastination Equation will teach you how to bust the excuses that are preventing you from doing your best work and living your best life….So dont put it off any longer. Read this book. Today.”
 —Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive and A Whole New Mind

“Illuminating….Piers Steel shows us the secrets of procrastination, how it affects us and how we will, one day, be able to prevail.”
—Dan Ariely, author of The Upside of Irrationality and Predictably Irrational

Using a mix of psychology, evolutionary biology, self-help, and more than a decade of research, Dr. Piers Steel, the worlds foremost authority on procrastination, offers a tried and true method helping us to identify, understand, and break free of our self-destructive bad habits and create more positive lives for ourselves.

Piers Steel, PhD, is the world's leading researcher and speaker on the science of motivation and procrastination. He studied and taught at the business and psychology schools of the University of Minnesota before moving to the University of Calgary's Haskayne School of Business, where he is a professor of human resources and organizational dynamics. He has been studying procrastination and its effects for more than ten years—after spending decades practicing it. Dr. Steel's award-winning research has appeared in magazines ranging from Psychology Today and New Scientist to Good Housekeeping and Profit. His work has been reported in the Los Angeles Times, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and USA Today. He lives in Calgary, Alberta, with his wife and two sons.