The Complete Idiot's Guide to Overcoming Procrastination [Mass Market Paperback]

Michelle Tullier (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Complete Idiot's Guide | Publication Date: December 1, 1999

You're no idiot, of course. You know your life would be easier to handle and a lot more pleasant if you just stopped putting off 'til next month what you should have done last week. But when it comes to actually facing procrastination head-on and doing something about it... well, there's always tomorrow. Don't crash on the couch and flip on the TV again! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Overcoming Procrastination is a fun, easy-to-follow guide to reorganizing your life to get things done before they become a problem! In this Complete Idiot's Guide, you get:

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Dear Prospective Reader,

I'm a recovering procrastinator. Simple as that. Back in grad school I put off studying for the comprehensive exams by spending hours cleaning my leather tennis shoes with a toothbrush. I never used to stick with a fitness regimen long enough to work up a sweat, much less get my money's worth from a gym membership. I never vacuumed until unexpected guests called to say they were in the neighborhood. You get the picture.

So, how did I become a recovering procrastinator -- dare I say an ex-procrastinator? It happened when I learned that there are great rewards to be found in making advance plans, meeting deadlines, living up to commitments, and working diligently toward goals -- and sometimes very unpleasant consequences for not doing so! Plus, I like the way getting things done gives me peace of mind.

Now I'm known among friends and family as the smarmy one who gets her Christmas shopping done by October, sends thank-you notes the day gifts arrive, and never misses a work-related deadline (wellalmost never). You, too, can be the person everyone loves to hate (but secretly envies). The techniques I recommend in The Complete Idiot's Guide to Overcoming Procrastination have worked not only for me but also for the many clients and seminar participants I've helped as a career counselor and organizational consultant. My aim is for you to find in this book the keys to becoming unstuck and accomplishing anything you desire.

Michelle Tullier

From the Back Cover

You're no idiot, of course. You know your life would be easier to handle and a lot more pleasant if you just stopped putting off 'til next month what you should have done last week. But when it comes to actually facing procrastination head-on and doing something about it... well, there's always tomorrow. Don't crash on the couch and flip on the TV again! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Overcoming Procrastination is a fun, easy-to-follow guide to reorganizing your life to get things done before they become a problem! In this Complete Idiot's Guide, you get:

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 362 pages
• Publisher: Alpha; 1st edition (December 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028636376
• ISBN-13: 978-0028636375
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #201,100 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intellectual Honesty + Elegant Suggestions = Potent Change!, July 27, 2000

By 

Tsvi B. Morris - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Overcoming Procrastination (Mass Market Paperback)

After having given this book a thorough read, I have found it to be the most thoughtful and intellectually honest book I have ever read on the subject. This is because, instead of treating the problem of procrastination as a simple problem, deserving only a facile prescription to "make it all better," Dr. Tullier treats it as the mult-faceted, nuanced and often insidious problem that it can become--and pulls no punches in stating how serious it can be! In the process, she considers it as not only a psychological or self-management problem, but as one that can affect all too many areas of one's life balance.

And her solutions are sincere, and not always easy, but elegant in their practical application. Her emphasis on organizing one's environment would seem so obvious, but as a person who suffers all too much from being disorganized, it has opened my eyes wide to see how it is inextricably connected to my procrastinating!

I have used her "Stop. Look. Listen." formula and "Ten Surefire Strategies" several times now, and I am already finding that my ability to take actions immediately without hesitation or excuses has greatly increased.

This wide treatment of the subject makes it the best book on the subject for virtually anybody wanting to end this bad set of habits, in my opinion.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Broad yet deep and detailed, inspiring and concrete - awesome achievement, June 4, 2006

By 

Simon Varley "Enjoyin' the ride" (Schweeden) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Overcoming Procrastination (Mass Market Paperback)

This is one of those 'idiot's' books that really shine and goes well-beyond being an idiot's book, despite being so easy to 'get' by anyone. This book is such an achievement and the author has done such a good job with what at first might seem like a simple topic. It could easily be called something else (something less potentially-embarrassing to be caught reading) like organising and structuring for real productivity or something such.

Problem: Procrastination, Solution: Do the things you have to do, right? That's what everyone knows is the bottom line but for so many it isn't that simple and this book really offers the tools and information needed by sufferers.

In this book, every aspect of the subject is explored, revealed and to a very satisfactory extent, solved: the psychology behind P is reviewed, solutions to causes presented, tips and hints and systems explored and explained... I really cannot imagine this book being written any better. You will be surprised how many of us actually procrastinate (to some extent or other), and how much help this book can be.

The writer has a friendly tone, but is serious with her instruction/guidance: the way you imagine a great teacher or therapist should be. The usual' idiot's' things are there, the tit-bits of advice-in-a-box, the interesting/inspiring quotations and so forth - an easy read.

Much of the information/advice in this book isn't just of use to me but I am already using it to help colleagues with their organisation, time management and productivity.

Now, the only quesiton, is are you going to sit here reading reviews all day deciding whether or not to "buy this book, or that book, or maybe the other one, what was it called again?" or are you going to get on with it and do something about your issues RIGHT NOW?!

Go for it! ;)

24 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Complete Idiot's Guide to Overcoming Procrastination, January 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Overcoming Procrastination (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a wonderful little book written in a friendly, breezy style. The author, Dr. Michelle Tullier, confesses in a transparent way to her readers, her own struggle to get out of the procrastination habit.

As an immigrant who came to America almost 40 years ago as a young adult, I have been noticing that the procrastination habit (and the rudeness habit) seems to be getting worse and worse in our society; I don't know why!

Dr. Tullier's book is a wake-up call. She is right in calling procrastination an epidemic.

Perhaps I am less of a procrastinator than the average, but I found the advice on dealing with procrastinators around you (especially bosses or spouses) to be very useful.

The only small suggestion I have for future editions of this book is to make some mention of skills such as time management, speed reading, presentation skills, etc. and how to enhance them. They may not be directly related to procrastination, but it may help increase the confidence level of procrastinators and assist them in breaking their habit.

My advice to readers: GO BUY IT! FOLLOW IT! IT'S GREAT!