Page 139 - A Mind For Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science

Practicing Your Zombie Wrangling

Think of a challenge that you have been putting off. What kind of thoughts would help you
actually do it? For example, you might think: “It’s not really so difficult; it will get easier
once I get started; sometimes it’s good to do things that I don’t enjoy; the rewards are
worth it.” 12

SUMMING IT UP

Procrastination is such an important topic that this summary includes key
takeaway points from all this book’s chapters on overcoming procrastination:

Keep a planner-journal so you can easily track when you reach your
goals and observe what does and doesn’t work.
Commit yourself to certain routines and tasks each day.
Write your planned tasks out the night before, so your brain has time

to dwell on your goals to help ensure success.
Arrange your work into a series of small challenges. Always make
sure you (and your zombies!) get lots of rewards. Take a few minutes
to savor the feelings of happiness and triumph.
Deliberately delay rewards until you have finished a task.
Watch for procrastination cues.
Put yourself in new surroundings with few procrastination cues, such

as the quiet section of a library.
Obstacles arise, but don’t make a practice of blaming all your
problems on external factors. If everything is always somebody else’s
fault, it’s time to start looking in the mirror.
Gain trust in your new system. You want to work hard during times of

focused concentration—and also trust your system enough that when it
comes time to relax, you actually relax without feelings of guilt.
Have backup plans for when you still procrastinate. No one is perfect,
after all.
Eat your frogs first.

Happy experimenting!