A Teen's Guide to Getting Stuff Done

Book excerpt: Do you procrastinate? And if so, what’s your procrastination type? In this fun and illustrated guide, author Jennifer Shannon blends acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and cognitive behavioral strategies to help you recognize your procrastination habits, discover the strengths of your unique procrastination type, and find the motivation you need to meet important deadlines and reach your highest goals. In the midst of modern-day distractions like smartphones, social media, and endless hours of movie and television streaming, it’s no wonder you procrastinate! But despite what you may have heard, procrastination doesn’t make you a bad or lazy person. In fact, procrastination may even work for you sometimes—creating a sense of urgency that can help you focus. But if procrastination doesn’t work for you, it can get in the way of meeting your full potential—in high school, college, your career, and life. So, how can you get things done and be your very best? In A Teen’s Guide to Getting Stuff Done, you’ll discover your procrastination type—warrior, pleaser, perfectionist, or rebel—as well as the unique strengths inherent in each type. If you’re a warrior, you love a good challenge, but may not be able to complete tasks you find uninteresting. If you’re a pleaser, you may be so concerned about disappointing others that you postpone doing something. If you’re a perfectionist, you may put things off because you’re worried about your work being judged by teachers, parents, or peers. And finally, if you’re a rebel, you’re driven by a strong sense of independence. By understanding your type and using the practical strategies laid out in each chapter of this book, you’ll be able to break the cycle of procrastination once and for all. This isn’t a manual on how to please your parents, teachers, professors, or friends. This is a book to help you understand why you procrastinate, whether or not procrastination works for you, and if not, how to improve your work habits and really get things done. By helping you uncover your own unique strengths, this book will help you master your to-do list—and your life! This book has been selected as an Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Self-Help Book Recommendation—an honor bestowed on outstanding self-help books that are consistent with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles and that incorporate scientifically tested strategies for overcoming mental health difficulties. Used alone or in conjunction with therapy, our books offer powerful tools readers can use to jump-start changes in their lives.