Procrastinators Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from chronic procrastination.
The Now Habit
Thank you so much for creating this website. I got pretty emotional reading the article "Chronic Procrastination is NOT a Time Management Problem" because I've never heard my problem described so accurately. After years of assuming that I was inherenly lazy and going to great lengths to hide this from everyone, this might be finally be a step in the right direction.
I was just wondering if anyone has read "The Now Habit" by Neil Fiore. It's got amazing reviews on Amazon but I'm hesitant to order after finding this site. As a "chronic procrastinator" I probably need more than a superficial approach.
Thank you once again and I look forward to seeing this site evolve.
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Fiore's "The Now Habit"
Hi Mary. I'm glad the article resonated with you. I wrote it because nothing I'd ever read about procrastination seemed to describe my particular problem - well, actually, that's why I created this entire Web site! When people tell me they can relate to these things, it makes me feel so much better. I know I'm not alone.
I think I have Neil Fiore's book somewhere, but it wasn't that helpful to me. It's a classic, but I don't know... I'm just not that "logical" about my procrastination problem.
The book I've been reading that's been very helpful is Rita Emmett's "The Procrastinator's Handbook". I also liked another procrastination book that I can't remember the title of... Let's see if I can find it in my bookcase...
Hmmm... I found "The Now Habit" and a couple other books on procrastination, but I can't find the one I liked at the moment. I'll dig it up later.
I think there is a way to use the content management system this site uses to create a book review section. I'll look into that later, too. I'm in the middle of my workday now, and if I were to do it now I'd be procrastinating!!!!
summary
there's a summary on the yahoo group of the Now Habit. I also have it and can send to anyone as an attachment.
Neil Fiore on talk radio
Have a listen:
http://www.worldtalkradio.com/archive.asp?aid=3811
I'm researching like mad so I thought i'd share this stuff with you. Hope it helps you like it's helping me.
Andy
:))
Thanks Andy
I'll check it out at the weekend. (I've rewarded myself with an extra hour surfing at the weekend for doing something important I'd been procrastinating on - if I didn't do it the consequence would have been paying £5 to charity, as well as the repercussions of not doing it!).
Normy
The Now Habit author link
Some useful video and seminar dates here:
http://www.neilfiore.com
Andy
:)
The Now Habit
I've got this book on my bookshelf, and I ~have~ read it, but can't really remember it - it didn't make a big enough impact, unlike David Allen's system. The biggest thing that has made a difference, though, is sharing ideas with people here and elsewhere, and getting support. I've really been making strides lately.
Normy
A real difference in tone
I agree that "The Now Habit" doesn't convey the same kind of purpose and drive for action that David Allen' s "Getting Things Done" does. After reading GTD a few times, I was actually a little disappointed in "The Now Habit," because I was hoping for a more focused, concrete approach.
I think the book has good ideas, but the delivery of those ideas isn't quite as imperative as it could have been. Dr. Fiore's descriptions of procrastinators resonate with me very much, and I think I can get a lot out of the book, once I process it and distill some set of plans and actions out of it.
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flexiblefine
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheNowHabit/
Is it worth a re-read?
I'm toying with the idea of re-reading it now, and seeing if I can get more out of it second time round - a lot has changed since I first read it, and perhaps I just wasn't ready. (If I ~don't~ read it soon it isn't because I'm procrastinating! I just need to consider my priorities ;))
Normy
Re-reading is probably useful
Yes, I think the book is worth a re-read, especially if it's been a while since you read it the first time. Like any book with a real program in it, you'll notice things on later readings that didn't really stick the first time.
You're actively working on overcoming your procrastination now, so you may find things in the book that you can use right away, even if you don't end up adopting the whole program. Each little trick or method can make a difference.
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flexiblefine
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheNowHabit/
thanks
Thanks for that flexiblefine - I'll add it to my Mt TBR (To Be Read)!
Normy
You are not inherently lazy
I saw a lot of recommendations for "The Now Habit" before buying it. The Now Habit approach works from the inside -- procrastination is a response to anxiety, and much effort is given to working against that anxiety.
I agree that procrastination is not a time management problem. All the time management and organizational programs in the world can't help you do the things you've been avoiding. I adopted David Allen's "Getting Things Done" method, and seeing how long some items stayed on my lists really brought my procrastination problem into focus.
Back to "The Now Habit": I've been summarizing chapters in the book each week on the Yahoo Group listed in my signature. Check them out, get a taste for the book, and decide for yourself if it's a good approach for you. Feel free to join the group, too -- it's not exclusive to the book's approach at all.
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flexiblefine
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheNowHabit/
The Now Habit : re-read
Four months after posting that I'm adding back on my TBR list, and I'm now re-reading The Now Habit. Already got a couple of insights from it that I didn't get first time round. I'm aiming to read a chapter a week and work on the ideas on that chapter. It's tempting to go faster as it's an 'easy' read, but I want to make sure I assimilate it (and of course I ~never~ time binge! :p)
Normy
Taking a look at it myself
Well you're re-reading The Now Habit I'll be reading it for the first time. I'll post back when I've finished and we can compare experiences. :)
Join the group, if you like
I don't usually like plugging my own group on someone else's forum, but here goes.
Some months ago, I started a procrastination-related Yahoo Group to discuss methods in "The Now Habit" and other sources. There's a link to the group in my signature, if you want to pop over and have a look around.
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flexiblefine
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheNowHabit/
I joined last night!
Thanks flexiblefine - I joined last night! ;)
Normy
Lurking at the Now Habit
I'm working my way through the Now Habit again, with a cyber buddy, and I've been lurking on the website flexiblefine posted (using my timer - Oh I could get so sidetracked there!). There's a lot of talk about GTD as well, which is the system I use - it really must just work with my brain, because I downloaded the Outlook system, sat one night and worked through the booklet, and then the next day I was doing full blown GTD - some people seem to take a long time to implement it, which surprised me.
Anyway, it's quite funny because at the moment I'm doing the Now Habit procrastination log, and guess what - I've hardly procrastinated for two days! Ha! (Obviously there are still things left undone that I've procrastinated about previously, but very little currently).
Normy
Go tell the group!
Yes, post to the group -- success stories can be quite motivational.
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flexiblefine
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheNowHabit/
Yahoo Group
Just to let you know why I haven't posted.
I haven't posted to the Yahoo group because having lurked there for a while I don't feel I would get anything out of it that I'm not getting elsewhere, and that it could well become another distraction for me. I am a member of a number of boards because no one board fulfills all my needs, and I need to be careful not to get involved in too much - I can get easily sidetracked!
My feeling about the Yahoo group was that there was quite a bit of analysis (which I can get here), but without trying out the ideas that came up (which I have been able do in a limited way here, and with regular support at another board). I really need both the analysis AND the support. I know pro is now trying to get the support side of this board more active, which I think will really make a huge differece here.