Author Itamar Shatz argues that procrastination is not a modern phenomenon and can be overcome. He claims people have been struggling with getting things done throughout history, including famous composer Mozart, who was a serial procrastinator. According to Shatz's book "Solving Procrastination", the key to stopping procrastination is to change one's approach rather than working harder, by figuring out what motivates oneself. Shatz, a social science lecturer at Cambridge University, has written extensively on this topic in his book published in August.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-06,
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Story summary
Itamar Shatz, a social science lecturer at Cambridge University, has written a book called "Solving Procrastination: The Science of Why We Put Things Off and How to (Finally!) Stop" which challenges common misconceptions about procrastination. According to Shatz, people have been struggling with getting things done throughout history - even famous composer Mozart was a serial procrastinator. He argues that procrastination is not just about being lazy or a modern phenomenon, but rather it's about having the wrong approach and motivation. The key to overcoming procrastination, according to Shatz, is to change one's approach and figure out what will motivate them.
Written for “Procrastination Habits” on 2026-09-07,
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Ugh, I'll do it later.
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I → do → it
How much do you know about procrastination?
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you → know → procrastination
Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get our journalism delivered directly to your inbox.
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journalism → sign → inbox
Procrastination is often misunderstood.
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Procrastination → misunderstand → ?
Many of us chalk it up to laziness, see it as a modern phenomenon and think it simply can't be overcome.
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The reasons you procrastinate — and how to finally stop
But those things aren't true, says Itamar Shatz, author of a book published in August, Solving Procrastination: The Science of Why We Put Things Off and How to (Finally!) Stop.
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People have been struggling with getting things done throughout history (Mozart was a serial procrastinator).
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We also tend to push things off for a variety of reasons, like being a perfectionist.
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And procrastination is certainly something you can conquer, Shatz argues in his book.
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Shatz → conquer → book
The key, he says, is to stop thinking you simply have to work harder.
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you → say → ?
"The really important thing is to figure out what is going to motivate you."
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what → figure → you
Take this quiz, based on Life Kit's interview with Shatz, a social science lecturer at Cambridge University, and his book, Solving Procrastination, to see how much you know.
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you → take → much
You may learn a tool or two on how to overcome procrastination along the way.
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The quiz: How much do you know about procrastination?
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you → know → procrastination
Take this quiz to assess your digital habits, and then learn how to engage with your electronic devices in a way that's intentional and appropriate.
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that → take → way
Do you lean optimistic or pessimistic?
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A glass-half-full outlook can keep you engaged and hopeful in hard times.
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outlook → keep → times
According to the field of attachment theory, each person has a unique attachment style that informs how that person relates to intimacy: secure, anxious or avoidant.
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person → accord → intimacy
We talked with Amir Levine, a neuroscientist and co-author of the book Attached, about how your attachment style can impact your relationships.
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style → talk → relationships
This digital story was edited by Sylvie Douglis.
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We'd love to hear from you.
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