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iProcrastinate Podcast — Health
iProcrastinate Podcast

Dr. Timothy A. Pychyl, associate professor of psychology and director of the Procrastination Research Group (Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada), provides a series of short talks, interviews and question/answer podcasts that explain why we procrastinate and what we can do about it. An award winning educator, Dr. Pychyl challenges his listeners to explore their daily choices to act or postpone acting on their intentions. Do we head to the gym as intended, or slouch back on the couch thinking “I’ll feel more like a workout tomorrow”? Do we tackle the task now, or do we avoid it arguing to ourselves that “I work better under pressure”? From losing 10 pounds to changing personal habits, Pychyl, a personality psychologist, focuses on the breakdown of intentional action – a problem commonly called procrastination. This series expands on three main themes: 1) irrational delay that sabotages personal productivity, 2) personality attributes that contribute to self-defeating behaviours, and 3) situational factors that undermine our ability to take or sustain action. Drawing on the research literature, topics include: self-handicapping, anxiety, self-regulation, perfectionism, will power, coping styles, effects on health and well-being, impulsivity, temporal discounting, motivation and even purpose in life. Of course, Dr. Pychyl doesnâ€™t leave his listeners with the problem itself. Once these key factors have been established, he turns his attention to techniques that facilitate self change, habit-breaking implementation intentions, as well as strategies that help each of us to â€œcarpe diem!â€? The emphasis is on self-understanding, practical advice and tools for change. We guarantee that you will find this an engaging series of podcasts that will provide you with tactics to increase personal productivity and well-being.

Copyright: © 2005 Timothy A. Pychyl, Ph.D.

Latest Episodes:

Key strategies to procrastinate less Dec 06, 2012

Show notes

Looking for an overview of how to stop procrastinating? Got an hour? In this podcast, Dr. Pychyl walks through the major factors related to our procrastination as well as strategies to overcome issues such as lack of commitment, defeatist attitude, weak intentions, distractions and low energy. It's a good podcast to end 2012, as we look ahead to the resolutions we'll make for the new year!

If you want to learn more about procrastination, visit procrastination.ca or The Procrastinator's Digest: A Concise Guide to Solving the Procrastination Puzzle.

I close the podcast with a song entitled "Procrastination" by Matt Weidinger.

The Willpower Instinct Sep 19, 2012

Show notes

An interview with award-winning professor and best-selling author Dr. Kelly McGonigal. In this interview, Dr. McGonigal explains her teaching and writing about willpower, with a particular focus on her latest book, The Willpower Instinct: How self-control works, why it matters, and what you can do to get more of it. What a joy it was to interview Kelly. She is thoughtful, articulate and precise in her explanations. I know this is an interview that you'll enjoy and review. She brings a different perspective to our understanding of procrastination and self-control.

If you want to learn more about procrastination, visit procrastination.ca or The Procrastinator's Digest: A Concise Guide to Solving the Procrastination Puzzle.

I close the podcast with a song entitled "Procrastination" by Matt Weidinger.

Fear, competence & autonomy in the prediction of procrastination Jul 18, 2012

Show notes

An interview with Mohsen Haghbin (Carleton University) about his most recent publication relating fear of failure and procrastination. I had interviewed Mohsen in 2010 when he helped Adam McCaffrey finish the study, but I wanted to do this again with the published paper, because the final analyses revealed some interesting findings about what affects the apparent relation between fear of failure and procrastination.

Mohsen explains that whether or not fear of failure is related to procrastination depends on whether we feel competent and whether we feel a sense of autonomy (choice) with the task at hand. If you like research, you'll get a good understanding of Mohsen's study. If you're seeking to understand why fear sometimes results in procrastination yet at other times fuels motivation, you'll find some of the answer in this study - it depends on other factors!

If you want to learn more about procrastination, visit procrastination.ca or The Procrastinator's Digest: A Concise Guide to Solving the Procrastination Puzzle.

I close the podcast with a song entitled "Procrastination" by Matt Weidinger.

Backsliding and Weakness of Will Jun 18, 2012

Show notes

An interview with Dr. Alfred Mele, the William H. and Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy at Florida State University, and author of Backsliding: Understanding Weakness of Will. I've been looking forward to this interview for quite awhile, as I have read most of Al's books up to this point (he has 7 other books focused on topics such as human agency, motivation, free will and self-deception), and his work speaks directly to the weakness of will we commonly call procrastination. He's a brilliant scholar, prolific writer and an important philosopher who helps us understand why we act contrary to our better judgment. I know you'll enjoy the interview, as he draws on everyday examples from our lives to explain the concepts.

If you want to learn more about procrastination, visit procrastination.ca or The Procrastinator's Digest: A Concise Guide to Solving the Procrastination Puzzle.

I close the podcast with a song entitled "Procrastination" by Matt Weidinger.

The Art & Science of Personal Productivity May 29, 2012

Show notes

An interview with Max Leibman author of Higher Process: The Art & Science of Personal Productivity. Max helps us consider what we really know about the science of time management and how to be more productive.

If you want to learn more about procrastination, visit procrastination.ca or The Procrastinator's Digest: A Concise Guide to Solving the Procrastination Puzzle.

I close the podcast with a song entitled "Procrastination" by Matt Weidinger.

Changepower! May 01, 2012

Show notes

ChangePower! - 37 Secrets to Habit Change Success - that's the title to Meg Selig's new book, and in this podcast I interview Meg to learn how we can develop changepower. This is a great conversation about habits and habit change. We all have lots to learn from Meg. You can read her Psychology Today Blog - Changepower - or you can learn more about her book.

If you want to learn more about procrastination, visit procrastination.ca or The Procrastinator's Digest: A Concise Guide to Solving the Procrastination Puzzle.

I close the podcast with a song entitled "Procrastination" by Matt Weidinger.

Computers and Procrastination: The Peril and the Promise Apr 10, 2012

Show notes

"There seems to be something about computer technology and Internet connectivity that distracts us, that tempts us towards procrastination." This is the opening line of a paper co-authored by my guest today, Nick Breems. Nick is an assistant professor of Computer Science at Dordt College (Iowa) and a doctoral candidate in philosophy at the University of Salford (Manchester, England). In this podcast, Nick brings his focus to the intersection of philosophy and computer science in a discussion of computers and procrastination. It's a wide-ranging and fascinating discussion. I enjoyed the chat immensely, and I think you'll find it thought provoking. Nick provides a few concrete examples of things we can do to minimize procrastination while online or working on our computers.

If you want to learn more about procrastination, visit procrastination.ca or The Procrastinator's Digest: A Concise Guide to Solving the Procrastination Puzzle.

I close the podcast with a song entitled "Procrastination" by Matt Weidinger.

Procrastination, thinking & aging Mar 28, 2012

Show notes

Dr. William (Bill) McCown discusses his latest research projects - each is fascinating. Bill is a researcher, clinical psychologist and university administrator. He has been doing research on procrastination for over 25 years, and he has lots to offer in this podcast. We discuss what procrastinators think about, how procrastination affects the elderly and the analysis of textual data in procrastination research. Our conversation is wide ranging including issues related to development, cognition, personality and clinical outcomes. Bill grounds his research in everyday examples and offers some clear strategies for change.

If you want to learn more about procrastination, check out procrastination.ca or The Procrastinator's Digest: A Concise Guide to Solving the Procrastination Puzzle.

Turn it "bright side up!" Feb 14, 2012

Show notes

Bright Side Up is the title of a new book by Amy Spencer. In this podcast, I interview Amy who explains that you don't need to reinvent your whole life to be happier - you just need to turn it "bright side up!" Our conversation focuses on the why and what of her latest writing project. We touch on many topics in positive psychology including optimism and happiness. I know you'll find it interesting and useful as Amy has lots of practical examples from her book.

If you want to learn more about Bright Side Up: 100 Ways to be Happier Right Now, check out brightsideup.com or learn more about Amy at amyspencer.com

To learn more about procrastination, check out our Procrastination Research Group at procrastination.ca or The Procrastinator's Digest: A Concise Guide to Solving the Procrastination Puzzle.

The closing song, Procrastination, is by Matt Weidinger. Enjoy!

Getting started in 2012 Jan 12, 2012

Show notes

Procrastinating? Me too. Today, I talk about the "art of living" and how we're like all other people, some other people and no other person. I do this by reading and responding to listeners' emails. Lots of ground covered as we think about the doings, and "not doings," of our lives.

If you want to learn more about procrastination, check out procrastination.ca or The Procrastinator's Digest: A Concise Guide to Solving the Procrastination Puzzle.

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