How to get things done with this recommended self-help book
The Now Habit: A strategic programme for overcoming procrastination and enjoying guilt-free play
Neil A Fiore
Publisher: Penguin Putnam
ISBN: 0874775043
Price: £6.57
Review by Paul Tyrrell
You could be forgiven for thinking this book was the business equivalent of a rigorous diet plan. In fact, it is easy to read, quick to finish (at about 200 pages) and immediately useful. It aims to help the reader overcome procrastination – the tendency to put off tasks – which for many people creates poor work-life balance.
“The typical procrastinator completes most assignments on time,” says author Neil Fiore, “but the pressure of doing work at the last minute causes unnecessary anxiety and diminishes the quality of the end result.” He points out that most of us motivate ourselves with sticks rather than carrots. In contrast, his programme encourages you to build your schedule around a rewarding social life.
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Fiore avoids self-help platitudes such as “set priorities” because, he says, you would do these things if you could. Instead, he offers practical advice on dealing with underlying issues such as fear of failure, perfectionism and indecisiveness. He also explains how to deal with procrastinating colleagues.
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