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How to learn to enjoy unpleasant but necessary activities? Why is it so hard for us to do everything on time? One of the leading European experts on the problem of procrastination, Peter Ludwig, is sure that the habit of procrastination is not innate, which means that we are able to part with it.
The reason for the conversation is a smart and funny book by the leading European personal development coach Petr Ludwig (Petr Ludwig) “Defeat Procrastination! How to stop putting things off until tomorrow. Petr lives and works in the Czech Republic. The area of his scientific interests is myths about motivation and erroneous approaches to the problem of procrastination. Peter tells Psychologies about some of the misconceptions that greatly complicate our lives, as well as useful scientific discoveries.
Psychologies: Peter, in Russia, as well as all over the world, a huge number of books on time management and the fight against
Peter Ludwig: There are really a lot of books on time management today. So it turns out that high-quality books are lost in a sea of low-quality ones. In addition, the practical advice offered by the authors often contradicts each other and is not scientifically substantiated in any way. For example, many offer solutions that use extrinsic motivation – the “carrot and stick” method. But research shows that extrinsic motivation has its downsides. When it comes to intellectual work, the need to awaken creative abilities, external motivation does not work. It is especially important to understand your deep, inner needs.
Read more:
- How to beat procrastination? Learn to procrastinate!
Psychologies: How effective is your author’s method?
Peter Ludwig: I’m just trying to combine practice and the latest scientific research. My method is based on experience with tens of thousands of people. The main principle is simplicity. When a method is too complicated, one can hardly count on its effectiveness – a person puts it off for later, like everything else. In general, when writing the book, the phrase attributed to Albert Einstein was very important for me: “If you can’t explain it simply, then you don’t understand it very well.”
Psychologies: What scientific study surprised you the most, opened your eyes to the causes of procrastination, helped you write a book?
Peter Ludwig: There is a very interesting series of studies that show that willpower can be strengthened in the same way that we build muscle in the gym. The principle is the same – to practice gradually and continuously, moving forward in small steps. A person with a strong will is much less likely to procrastinate. He is more successful in school, at work, in his personal life. Finally, he is happier and healthier than the weak-willed. The good news is that procrastination is not innate, we acquire this habit over time. This means that they are able to part with it.
Psychologies: What advice do you often use from the advice you give in the book?
Peter Ludwig: important to me , in fact, the very struggle with procrastination. It is important to remember that starting is already half the battle done. So I try to start right now. As the Japanese proverb says, “Design without action is a dream. Action without a plan is a nightmare.” This proverb expresses two main life problems. Many people have their own vision of tasks and goals, but they do nothing to follow it. Others, on the contrary, do something, but do not see the point in it. Ideally, we need both.
Psychologies: Which of your tips do you find the most difficult to implement?
Peter Ludwig: The most difficult thing is to clarify the personal vision. Understand what you would like to do, what really makes sense to you. A large selection of options paralyzes us, prevents us from making a decision, is the cause of procrastination and frustration. Not surprisingly, over the past thirty years, the number of people suffering from depression has increased many times over. On the other hand, a person who finds meaning for himself, understands what he wants, is much more resistant to depression. He overcomes obstacles more easily, acts more decisively and persistently. Finding a personal vision is probably the most difficult task, which is why I devote most of my book to it.
Read more:
- Laziness that protects us
P. Ludwig (Petr Ludwig) “Defeat procrastination! How to stop putting things off until tomorrow” (Alpina Publisher, 2014).