Course material

1. A Remedy for Procrastination by Marty Nemko Everyone knows that...
A Remedy for Procrastination
by Marty Nemko
Everyone knows that ambition is key to success. If you're not naturally driven, acquiring
ambition can feel like an impossibility. While I can't promise I can turn a torpid
procrastinator into a dynamo, I have been able to help my clients see moderate
improvement. And one of the world's top experts on procrastination privately told me,
"Marty, I gotta tell you. After all these years, I've come to believe no one can cure
procrastination."
So with those disclaimers made, here are the strategies that have most often helped my
clients develop more ambition. Might one or more help you stop procrastinating?
Realize that productivity is key to the life well-led.
Most successful and emotionally content people value productivity over pleasure. Indeed,
they cherish the privilege of being able to be highly productive. Of course, where possible,
they choose work they do well, which makes work more pleasurable. Even so, they don't
expect work to be as fun as recreation, but they feel it's a worthwhile tradeoff. So they work,
not as little as they can get away with, but as much as possible without hurting their health
or quality of work. In turn, whether they're a clerk or CEO, they put their heads on their
pillows each night feeling good about themselves, the role models they are for their families
and friends, and that they're not parasites on the world but substantial contributors to it.
Make it fun.
Yes, some tasks are inevitably not fun -- doing my taxes comes to mind, but most tasks can
be done in a way that's more enjoyable or in a way that's less so. Ongoing, ask yourself,
"What's a fun way to do this?" or "Can I game-ify this?" That technique is particularly
effective with fun-loving procrastinators because it doesn't require them to change their
valuing hedonism.
Be aware of the moment of truth.
There's a moment when you decide, consciously or not, whether to do the task or to escape
it by doing something more fun. Try to make that choice consciously. You'll usually realize
that the short-term benefit of avoidance is much outweighed by the long-term gain of
getting the task done and not suffering the results of procrastinating: the guilt, the shame,
an angry boss, damaged career, or personal life -- or simply the feeling that you could have
done a better job if you had started the task right away rather than waiting until the
adrenalized last-minute.

2. Focus on the next one-second task.
We all can get overwhelmed if we think of all the things on our plate. The key is to focus
on the next one-second task. Don't know what that is? Well, that's your next task. Can't
figure out the baby steps? Ask someone to help you. Some people have trouble motivating
themselves to do even a one-second task. It may help to remember that at least two benefits
derive: It feels good to get it done, and it's a baby step toward your long-term goal. There's
often a third benefit: You learn something, for example, from reading that next sentence or
in trying to prevent or fix a problem.
Accept that it needn't be pleasurable.
Sure, it would be nice if you could make all tasks pleasurable, but you can't. It's worth
reminding yourself that you can survive a measure of unpleasantness. When facing a task,
ask yourself if the unpleasantness is worth it? I'm sure Mother Teresa didn't find it
pleasurable to work amid the sewage stench and biting scorpions of Calcutta's streets but
knew the benefits were worth it. Of course, not everyone can or wants to be Mother Teresa,
but do picture the benefits to you, your boss, your family, and society of your doing some
less-than-fun work. The good news is that usually, the task turns out not to be that
unpleasant. Often, once you start, you'll find it more enjoyable than you thought. And if you
try to make the work as fun as possible and get help when you get stuck, you'll usually end
up reaping far more net pleasure than if you procrastinated.
Address any substance abuse problem.
Nothing kills drive like a drug or alcohol problem. Most abusers are unaware that they
have a problem so if you have even a bit of doubt whether you do, be brave enough to ask
those closest to you. And if you do have a problem, please get help. You'll likely be so glad
you did. For some people, family support is enough. Analytical types often do best with
short-term cognitive therapy while feeling- or spirituality-centered people may be helped
more by a 12-step program.
Get the right work.
If, too often, you find work painful, maybe you need more training or to find different
work -- a job you can do well enough so that the benefits of being highly productive
outweigh the pain. If you think that might help you, you may want to see my 21 top career
picks. Or might looking for another career just be a way to procrastinate addressing your
global lack of drive?
Practice.
You've suffered from lack of drive for a long time, so just reading these strategies won't
change you, let alone enduringly. Print out the strategy(ies) you want to try, tape it to your
computer monitor, read it aloud (with expression) a number of times a day, and then force
yourself to use the strategy, again and again. That's how to maximize your chances of
developing more drive.
[The link to this article no longer exists; however, here is another article about
procrastination and what you can do about it from the same author as A Remedy for
Procrastination, Marty Nemko: https://www.martynemko.com/articles/10-ways-counter-
your-procrastination_id1588.]
[Page 4 contains a few comprehension questions you need to answer, on your own and in

3. your own words.]
Directions to answering the questions below: Answer the questions below. Write your
answers according to the required number of sentences as instructed. Question #1's answer
is only one sentence long, but it must be a complete sentence. All sentences must be
complete, by the way. In case you just never knew or may have forgotten, a complete
sentence contains at least one subject and at least one verb and expresses a complete
thought.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What is the overall main idea (central point) for the entire article? (Write one complete
sentence.) This one sentence is located within the article. [The central point or overall main
idea of a passage or article is a summary sentence that does not contain any specific
supporting details but does elude to (hint at) them. The main idea does not start with the
following words: The main idea is about. Put yourself in the shoes of the author and write in
the same manner of the author. The easiest way to do this is to read the article because you
are reading the author's words; you are reading his thoughts on the topic. Write that one
stated main idea in the space below this question area.]
2. What strategies does Marty Nemko provide for beating procrastination? (Make a list of
them below in eight required sentences. Hint: Pay attention to the subheadings.)
3. Have you ever put off doing a task or chore? What was it? How did you overcome your
procrastination for completing that task or chore? [Write at least three complete sentences,
but don't stop there if you have more to say.]
4. Are you a chronic procrastinator (you do it a lot), or are you someone who usually
completes tasks and chores ahead of time? Explain your answer in at least three to five
complete sentences.