When we don't get the results we expect or hope for, we can imagine different outcomes, both better and worse. These are known as upward and downward counterfactuals. In the podcast today, I interviewed <a href="http://web2.uwindsor.ca/courses/psychology/fsirois/Health_Well-being_Lab/people/dr-fuschia-sirois/" title="Dr. Fuschia Sirois">Dr. Fuschia Sirois</a> from the University of Windsor (Ontario, Canada) who has explored the relation between counterfactuals and procrastination. I've written about one of Fuschia's studies on my <a href="http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/dont-delay" title="Psychology Today Blog - Don\'t Delay">Psychology Today</a> blog. You can find it here at <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/dont-delay/200806/avoiding-what-might-have-been" title="Don\'t Delay blog posting">Avoiding What Might Have Been</a>.You can learn more about our research at <a href="http://http-server.carleton.ca/~tpychyl" title="Procrastination Research Group">procrastination.ca</a>

When we don't get the results we expect or hope for, we can imagine different outcomes, both better and worse. These are known as upward and downward counterfactuals. In the podcast today, I interviewed Dr. Fuschia Sirois from the University of Windsor (Ontario, Canada) who has explored the relation between counterfactuals and procrastination. I've written about one of Fuschia's studies on my Psychology Today blog. You can find it here at Avoiding What Might Have Been.You can learn more about our research at procrastination.ca

When we don't get the results we expect or hope for, we can imagine different outcomes, both better and worse. These are known as upward and downward counterfactuals. In the podcast today, I interviewed <a href="http://web2.uwindsor.ca/courses/psychology/fsirois/Health_Well-being_Lab/people/dr-fuschia-sirois/" title="Dr. Fuschia Sirois" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dr. Fuschia Sirois</a> from the University of Windsor (Ontario, Canada) who has explored the relation between counterfactuals and procrastination. I've written about one of Fuschia's studies on my <a href="http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/dont-delay" title="Psychology Today Blog - Don\'t Delay" rel="noopener noreferrer">Psychology Today</a> blog. You can find it here at <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/dont-delay/200806/avoiding-what-might-have-been" title="Don\'t Delay blog posting" rel="noopener noreferrer">Avoiding What Might Have Been</a>.You can learn more about our research at <a href="http://http-server.carleton.ca/~tpychyl" title="Procrastination Research Group" rel="noopener noreferrer">procrastination.ca</a>

Avoiding what might have been: An interview with Dr. Fuschia Sirois

Dr. Timothy A. Pychyl, associate professor of psychology and director of the Procrastination Research Group (Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada), provides a series of short talks, interviews and question/answer podcasts that explain why we procrastinate and what we can do about it.  An award winning educator, Dr. Pychyl challenges his listeners to explore their daily choices to act or postpone acting on their intentions. Do we head to the gym as intended, or slouch back on the couch thinking "I'll feel more like a workout tomorrow"? Do we tackle the task now, or do we avoid it arguing to ourselves that "I work better under pressure"? From losing 10 pounds to changing personal habits, Pychyl, a personality psychologist, focuses on the breakdown of intentional action - a problem commonly called procrastination. This series expands on three main themes: 1) irrational delay that sabotages personal productivity, 2) personality attributes that contribute to self-defeating behaviours, and 3) situational factors that undermine our ability to take or sustain action.  Drawing on the research literature, topics include: self-handicapping, anxiety, self-regulation, perfectionism, will power, coping styles, effects on health and well-being, impulsivity, temporal discounting, motivation and even purpose in life. Of course, Dr. Pychyl doesnâ€™t leave his listeners with the problem itself. Once these key factors have been established, he turns his attention to techniques that facilitate self change, habit-breaking implementation intentions, as well as strategies that help each of us to â€œcarpe diem!â€?  The emphasis is on self-understanding, practical advice and tools for change. We guarantee that you will find this an engaging series of podcasts that will provide you with tactics to increase personal productivity and well-being.

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Dr. Timothy A. Pychyl, associate professor of psychology and director of the Procrastination Research Group (Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada), provides a series of short talks, interviews and question/answer podcasts that explain why we procrastinate and what we can do about it. An award winning educator, Dr. Pychyl challenges his listeners to explore their daily choices to act or postpone acting on their intentions. Do we head to the gym as intended, or slouch back on the couch thinking "I'll feel more like a workout tomorrow"? Do we tackle the task now, or do we avoid it arguing to ourselves that "I work better under pressure"? From losing 10 pounds to changing personal habits, Pychyl, a personality psychologist, focuses on the breakdown of intentional action - a problem commonly called procrastination. This series expands on three main themes: 1) irrational delay that sabotages personal productivity, 2) personality attributes that contribute to self-defeating behaviours, and 3) situational factors that undermine our ability to take or sustain action. Drawing on the research literature, topics include: self-handicapping, anxiety, self-regulation, perfectionism, will power, coping styles, effects on health and well-being, impulsivity, temporal discounting, motivation and even purpose in life. Of course, Dr. Pychyl doesnâ€™t leave his listeners with the problem itself. Once these key factors have been established, he turns his attention to techniques that facilitate self change, habit-breaking implementation intentions, as well as strategies that help each of us to â€œcarpe diem!â€? The emphasis is on self-understanding, practical advice and tools for change. We guarantee that you will find this an engaging series of podcasts that will provide you with tactics to increase personal productivity and well-being.

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Avoiding what might have been: An interview with Dr. Fuschia Sirois

Avoiding what might have been: An interview with Dr. Fuschia Sirois

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