The Procrastination Equation: How to Stop Putting Things Off and Start Getting Stuff Done book cover

The Procrastination Equation

How to Stop Putting Things Off and Start Getting Stuff Done

Piers Steel
3.72 (3429 Reviews)

The Procrastination Equation 개요

Discover the science behind why we delay and how to finally conquer it. Piers Steel's evidence-based formula (Motivation = Expectancy x Value / Delay x Impulsiveness) has transformed productivity for thousands. Brian Johnson calls it "heroic" - what could you accomplish without procrastination holding you back?

The Procrastination Equation의 핵심 주제

  • motivation equation
  • impulse control
  • temporal discounting
  • expectancy theory
  • task valuation

The Procrastination Equation의 명언

  • Procrastination is not an immutable character flaw.

  • Self-doubt is often just procrastination in disguise.

  • Fatigue increases impulsiveness.

  • The time to act is now.

  • Your future self will thank you for it.

The Procrastination Equation의 등장인물

  • Piers SteelAuthor and researcher of motivation science

저자 소개

The Procrastination Equation의 저자 소개

Piers Steel, author of The Procrastination Equation: How to Stop Putting Things Off and Start Getting Stuff Done, is an internationally recognized authority on the science of motivation and productivity. A Distinguished Research Chair at the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business, Steel combines decades of academic rigor with real-world insights, drawing from his PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and meta-analyses of over 800 studies on procrastination.

His work, blending psychology and self-help, has been featured in The New Yorker, Psychology Today, and Scientific American, establishing him as a leading voice in behavior change.

Steel’s research-driven approach to overcoming delay, rooted in his development of the Procrastination Equation framework, bridges theoretical models with actionable strategies. Alongside his acclaimed book, he has contributed to organizational behavior literature and engages audiences through global speaking engagements. The Procrastination Equation has been translated into multiple languages, reflecting its widespread adoption in both personal and professional contexts, and remains a cornerstone of modern productivity literature.

The Procrastination Equation 요약 다운로드

The Procrastination Equation 요약을 무료 PDF 또는 EPUB으로 받으세요. 인쇄하거나 오프라인에서 언제든 읽을 수 있습니다.

이 책에 대한 FAQ

The Procrastination Equation explains procrastination through a scientific formula: Motivation = (Expectancy × Value) / (Impulsiveness × Delay). Dr. Piers Steel combines psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral economics to reveal why we delay tasks and how to boost motivation using evidence-based strategies.

This book suits chronic procrastinators, productivity enthusiasts, and professionals seeking to overcome deadline stress. It’s particularly valuable for those interested in data-driven self-improvement, with actionable frameworks for students, entrepreneurs, and corporate teams.

Yes—readers praise its research-backed approach to tackling拖延症, though some criticize repetitive examples. It’s ideal for analytical thinkers who want a systemic understanding of motivation, outperforming generic productivity guides with its Nobel Prize-influenced formula.

The core framework identifies four procrastination drivers:

  • Expectancy (confidence in success)
  • Value (task reward magnitude)
  • Impulsiveness (distraction susceptibility)
  • Delay (time until reward realization)
    Mastering these variables helps increase motivation and reduce delay.

While both address behavior change, Steel’s work focuses specifically on quantifying procrastination’s root causes mathematically. Unlike James Clear’s habit-forming strategies, it provides diagnostic tools to calculate and fix motivation deficits for individual tasks.

Key evidence-based tactics include:

  • Breaking tasks into high-success-probability steps (boost expectancy)
  • Attaching immediate rewards to progress (increase value)
  • Using focus apps to limit distractions (reduce impulsiveness)
  • Creating artificial deadlines with penalties (shorten delay)

Some readers find the scientific explanations overly technical for casual audiences. Critics note that while the formula is robust, applying it requires substantial self-analysis—a challenge for highly impulsive procrastinators.

Steel traces拖延症to primal instincts: Our brains evolved to prioritize immediate rewards (e.g., eating) over long-term gains (e.g., crop cultivation). This survival bias makes modern abstract goals (career growth, health) neurologically harder to pursue.

Practical uses include:

  • Career: Negotiating milestone-based bonuses to shorten reward delays
  • Fitness: Pairing workouts with enjoyable podcasts to increase task value
  • Education: Using pre-commitment contracts to reduce impulsiveness

Notable lines include:

  • “Procrastination is wanting your life’s consequences without your life’s choices.”
  • “Motivation is the battle between limbic cravings and cortical calculations.”
    These emphasize the internal conflict between short-term desires and long-term goals.

With remote work increasing distractions and AI automating deadlines, Steel’s formula helps navigate digital-age productivity challenges. Its focus on managing impulsiveness aligns with modern struggles like social media addiction and constant notifications.

The concept of “irrational delay”—postponing tasks despite knowing the consequences—distinguishes procrastination from strategic deferral. This key definition helps readers identify真正的拖延症versus deliberate prioritization.

나만의 학습 방법 탐색하기

The Procrastination Equation은 단순한 책이 아닙니다 — Psychology의 마스터클래스입니다. 당신에게 가장 잘 맞는 방식으로 교훈을 흡수할 수 있도록 5가지 고유한 학습 모드를 제공합니다. 깊이 생각하는 사람이든, 빠른 학습자이든, 이야기를 좋아하는 사람이든, 당신의 스타일에 맞는 모드가 있습니다.

개인화 모드

The Procrastination Equation을 나만의 학습 스타일로 경험하기

무엇이든 묻고, 학습 스타일을 선택하고, 나에게 맞는 인사이트를 함께 만들어보세요.

Personalize Mode

샌프란시스코에서 컬럼비아 대학교 동문들이 만들었습니다

BeFreed는 1,000,000 호기심 넘치는 글로벌 커뮤니티를 하나로 연결합니다

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

더 많은 이야기를 보시겠어요?

웹에서 사람들이 BeFreed에 대해 이야기하는 방법
1.5K Ratings4.7
지금 바로 학습 여정을 시작하세요