Jane B. Burka Books
Burka and Lenora M.
Known for: Procrastination: Why You Do It, What to Do About It Now
Books by Jane B. Burka
Procrastination: Why You Do It, What to Do About It Now
Why do intelligent, capable people delay the very tasks they know matter most? In Procrastination: Why You Do It, What to Do About It Now, psychologists Jane B. Burka and Lenora M. Yuen argue that procrastination is rarely about poor time management or simple laziness. At its core, it is an emotional and psychological struggle tied to fear, self-worth, perfectionism, and the pressure of expectations. Their book helps readers look beneath the surface of avoidance and understand why starting can feel so threatening, even when the consequences of delay are obvious. What makes this book enduringly valuable is its blend of compassion and practicality. Burka and Yuen draw on decades of clinical work, workshops, and research to show how procrastination becomes a protective habit—one that shields us from discomfort in the short term while creating bigger problems over time. They explore the hidden beliefs and emotional patterns that fuel delay, then offer realistic cognitive and behavioral strategies for changing them. The result is a deeply humane guide for students, professionals, creatives, and anyone who has ever wondered why they keep getting in their own way.
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Procrastination Begins With Hidden Fear
Most procrastination is not a scheduling problem but a self-protection strategy. Burka and Yuen show that when people delay, they are often trying to avoid painful feelings: fear of failure, fear of being judged, fear of not meeting impossible standards, or even fear of succeeding and facing greater...
From Procrastination: Why You Do It, What to Do About It Now
Anxiety, Guilt, and Relief Form a Cycle
The trap of procrastination is that it works—at least for a moment. When you avoid a difficult task, anxiety drops immediately. That temporary relief teaches your brain that delay is rewarding, even though the task still remains. Burka and Yuen explain that procrastination is sustained by this emoti...
From Procrastination: Why You Do It, What to Do About It Now
There Are Different Styles of Procrastination
Not all procrastinators avoid for the same reason, and the book is especially helpful in showing that procrastination has different psychological flavors. Some people are perfectionists who delay because nothing feels good enough. Others are dreamers who enjoy imagining success more than enduring th...
From Procrastination: Why You Do It, What to Do About It Now
Self-Worth Gets Entangled With Performance
One of the book’s most powerful ideas is that procrastination often protects a fragile sense of self-worth. If you unconsciously believe that your value depends on how well you perform, every task becomes a test of identity. A paper is no longer just a paper; it is proof of whether you are smart. A ...
From Procrastination: Why You Do It, What to Do About It Now
Changing Thoughts Changes the Meaning of Tasks
Procrastination is fueled not only by emotion but by interpretation. Burka and Yuen show that the thoughts surrounding a task often make it feel unbearable: “I must do this perfectly.” “I should already know how.” “If I start, I have to finish everything.” “There’s no point unless I can do it brilli...
From Procrastination: Why You Do It, What to Do About It Now
Behavioral Progress Beats Waiting for Motivation
A major contribution of the book is its insistence that action often comes before motivation, not after it. Procrastinators commonly believe they need confidence, clarity, energy, or inspiration before they can begin. Burka and Yuen challenge this assumption by showing that momentum is usually built...
From Procrastination: Why You Do It, What to Do About It Now
About Jane B. Burka
Burka and Lenora M.
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Burka and Lenora M.
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