The subject of active scientific study in recent years, procrastination is a phenomenon that is much more complex than how it typically has been viewed, i.e., as merely the avoidance of something we don’t want to do. Researchers have found that most people procrastinate, often about tasks for which they hold the cognitive assumption that they won’t execute well or will simply fail at entirely. In this way, procrastination has been linked to the imposter syndrome in which feelings of incompetence and anxiety emerge, especially in the context of new or increasingly challenging situations or problems. Other commentators have noted the significance of Tim Urban’s ideas (see his TED Talk) on procrastination; he has suggested that procrastinators ineffectively prioritize work tasks on the Eisenhower Matrix, a grid introduced in the “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” that features quadrants based on the urgency and importance of activities to be completed. Procrastination has even been linked to self-harm, a vicious cycle in which avoidance generates dark moods and negative self-appraisals that then further reinforce the likelihood of future procrastinations. In the next virtual meeting of the Men’s Group Seminar on Saturday, February 6, 2021 (10:15 AM to 11:30 AM), we will explore the latest research on procrastination and consider experts’ suggestions on how to diminish this troublesome tendency.

*Registration Directions: If you would like to attend the next virtual meeting of the Men’s Group Seminar on Saturday, February 6, 2021, 10:15 to 11:30 AM, please RSVP to me at 949-338-4388 or jt@jamestobinphd.com no later than Thursday, February 4, 2021.  The fee is $25.00 (payable before entering the virtual meeting) and informed consent for participation in this telehealth event must be completed prior to the seminar. Please note that the Men’s Group Seminar is psychoeducational in nature, not therapeutic, and does not constitute psychotherapy or counseling.