The Now Habit by Neil A. Fiore

Originally published by Tarcher in 1988, The Now Habit has sold more than 58,000 copies, and is as relevant as ever!Author Neil Fiore offers the first comprehensive strategy to overcome the causes of procrastination and to eliminate its deleterious effects. His techniques will help any busy person get more things done more quickly, without the anxiety and stress brought on by failure to meet the workplace's pressing deadlines.This revised, redesigned edition includes a new introduction and a section that provides strategies to understand and deal with the complex role technology plays in procrastination today.

This is a heavy book, as in there is a lot of take in and comprehend, but it's well written. I started reading this book few years ago but put it down. Came back to it as an audiobook this year. I think it's better suited for audio listening, but only if you can focus on this alone. This is not a multitasking audio book. Great words of wisdom and advice. I've gained a lot from looking at my “un-schedule” even if I may not follow it every day. Also working on changing my mindset about things so that I am not dreading each task in life and procrastinating on everything.

It's not cool to read self-help books and I'm generally averse to the genre, but this is a helpful book that was recommended to me before I start grad school. It has some nice insights and tips for people who have, for whatever reason, learned to approach even basic tasks by spiraling into perfectionism-induced self-flagellation and paralysis. You know, those other people, those lame self-help book-reading types.

the fear of judgment is the key fear that stems from identifying who you are with your work
- We naturally are reluctant to face challenges and risks without self protection
-Procrastination has been learned and can be unlearned
- Knowing how you procrastinate is even more important than why
- Two stages: Creating + editing, and polishing. Don't try to end up at polishing when you first begin a project
- Your two-dimensional view pressure is you to know now instead of learning on the way
- Reverse calendar should be used immediately if you feel overwhelmed .You'll want to reverse calendar to see what you can tackle right now, where you can delegate, and when you'll be able to catch your breath and plan your vacation time
- Keep starting. Finishing will take care of itself
- Aim at starting rather than finishing
- Let go of worries and focus on where they can do the most good
- Your energy level is affected by how you talk to yourself .You can go farther depending on how you do so
- That an essential part of the training in long distance runners involves letting go of the
goal and staying in the process