Book Review: The Psychology of Procrastination – Strategies for Success by Hayden Finch

Book Overview

The Psychology of Procrastination offers a deep dive into the hidden forces behind procrastination. Written by psychologist Hayden Finch, this book combines scientific insight and practical strategies to help readers understand why they procrastinate and how to finally overcome it. It’s a guide for those who struggle with delaying tasks and want to break the cycle through evidence-based psychology—not just “try harder” advice.

It covers everything from the emotional roots of procrastination to practical methods of building lasting habits and motivation.

The book is divided into two main sections:

Part One: The Psychology of Procrastination

This section delves into the nature of procrastination, explaining how it works and why it’s so difficult to overcome. It unpacks the cycle of procrastination and examines its links to mental health issues such as depression, ADHD, perfectionism, and imposter syndrome. It answers essential questions like “What is procrastination?”, “Why does procrastination happen?”, and “How does procrastination relate to mental health problems?” Part one stresses that procrastination is far more complex than just laziness or lack of willpower, highlighting that it involves deep-rooted psychological factors.

Part Two: Using Psychology to Overcome Procrastination

Building on the insights gained in Part One, this section offers practical, evidence-based strategies to break the procrastination cycle. The author provides actionable tips on finding motivation, following through with tasks, and maintaining focus. It addresses challenges such as how to prioritize tasks, get started, and stay focused while overcoming avoidance. The strategies are rooted in psychological science, helping readers understand how to leverage their mind’s natural processes to beat procrastination.

Table of Contents (Overview)

Part One: The Psychology of Procrastination

• What is procrastination?

• The procrastination cycle

• Mental health links (depression, ADHD, perfectionism, imposter syndrome)

• Myths: laziness vs. psychological roots

Part Two: Using Psychology to Overcome Procrastination

• How to find motivation

• How to follow through and finish what you start

• Task prioritization and focus

• Overcoming avoidance

❓ What Questions Does This Book Answer?

1. Why is procrastination so hard to stop?

2. Why does procrastination happen?

3. How is it linked to mental health issues like depression and ADHD?

4. Is procrastination the same as laziness?

5. How does procrastination spiral into deeper problems?

6. What sneaky forms of procrastination should we watch for?

7. When does it become a serious issue?

8. Who is most affected by chronic procrastination?

9. Why don’t we learn from procrastinating experiences?

10. How can we break the cycle and stay focused?

✨ Top Quotes from the Book

“Everyone procrastinates, but not everyone is a procrastinator. The difference is how habitual the procrastination is and how detrimental it becomes to your life.”

“Ultimately, procrastination exists on a spectrum… We’re all somewhere on that spectrum.”

“When we procrastinate, we actually get stuck in a spiral, where one bout of procrastinating leads to another.”

“There has to be more to procrastination than just not trying hard enough.”

“Their experiences have shown me that while procrastination is sometimes benign, it’s often much more consequential.”

Book Details

Amazon Rankings & Reviews

• Overall Rating: ⭐ 4.5 out of 5

• Total Ratings: 303

• Best Sellers Rank:

  • #191,589 in Books

  • #224 in Popular Applied Psychology

  • #368 in Personal Time Management

  • #4,654 in Personal Transformation Self-Help

About the Author: Hayden Finch

Dr. Hayden Finch’s passion for psychology began as a child, helping friends work through their everyday problems. This early interest led her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Duke University, where she also volunteered at a psychiatric hospital. Later, she attended a doctoral program in Nebraska, where she worked with Dr. Will Spaulding, studying mental illnesses and developing treatment programs.

After completing her PhD, Dr. Finch spent a year at the Veterans Administration, combining her love for mental health with her desire to give back to veterans. Now a licensed clinical psychologist, she owns a mental health clinic, helping clients overcome depression, anxiety, ADHD, and other mental health challenges using evidence-based therapies.

When not working, Dr. Finch enjoys spending time with her husband and two dogs, Ava and Bailey, and indulging in her favorite treats like Dairy Queen Blizzards. She’s still a fourth-grader at heart.

Attachments & References

• Get Your Copy Of The Book: The Psychology of Procrastination: Understand Your Habits Find Motivation and Get Things Done by Hayden Finch
• Explore Similar Books
• Amazon’s book page
• Goodreaders’s book page
• Author’s image source: linkedn.com
• Book Cover: Amazon.com
• Quote sources: Goodreads