Bust Your BUTS: Tips for Teens Who Procrastinate

by Joanne Foster

Overview

This book is for teens who can’t stop procrastinating. There are hundreds of tips in this book to help them get rid of some “buts” that are common to procrastinators: I have too much to do, I don’t feel well, I might do badly, I’m confused, I get distracted, I’d rather do something else instead, and other people keep pestering me. “Bust Your BUTS” helps teens be productive, use time better, and become more successful.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781935067337
Publisher:	Anodyne, Inc. DBA Great Potential Press, Inc.
Publication date:	09/01/2017
Pages:	168
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 1.25(h) x 9.00(d)

About the Author

Joanne Foster, EdD is a parent, teacher, gifted education specialist, university instructor, educational consultant, and award-winning author who has worked in the field of gifted education for over 30 years. She conducts teacher-training workshops, gives presentations to educators and parent organizations in local, national, and international forums, and serves on several advisory committees concerning children's education and optimal development. She is co-author (with Dona Matthews) of Being Smart about Gifted Education (2009), and Beyond Intelligence: Secrets for Raising Happily Productive Kids (2014). Dr. Foster is also the sole author of Not Now, Maybe Later: Helping Children Overcome Procrastination (2015). She wrote "ABCs of Being Smart," a series of feature articles for the National Association for Gifted Children's magazine Parenting for High Potential, and her column "Fostering Kids' Success" appears at The Creativity Post online. Her writing appears in many other publications around the world. Dr. Foster taught Educational Psychology at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto for twelve years, and provides leadership in the areas of giftedness and high-level development.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: About Procrastination

What is procrastination?

Is procrastination bad and are there ways around it,

or are you forever doomed?

Procrastination and power struggles?

Chapter 2: Personal Reasons for Procrastination:

What Are Your BUTS?

BUT…I have too much to do

BUT…I don’t care

BUT…I’m bored

BUT…I’m not confident

BUT…I might do badly (fear of failure)

BUT…I might do so well that I’ll be expected to do more

(fear of success)

BUT…My feelings get in the way

BUT…What if it’s not perfect?

BUT…I don’t feel well (health—low on sleep, energy,

nutrition or exercise)

BUT…I’m confused

BUT…I’m lazy

BUT…I have to look at the BIG picture first

Chapter 3: Skill-Related Reasons for Procrastination:

What Are Your BUTS?

BUT…I’m disorganized

BUT…I have trouble setting goals

x Bust Your BUTS

BUT…Prioritizing and decision-making are hard for me

BUT…I don’t have the knowledge

BUT…Hey, look at my track record (past experience)

BUT…I have difficulty with time management

(including planning and preparation)

BUT…I’d rather do something else instead

BUT…I hate doing anything risky

Chapter 4: External Reasons for Procrastination:

What Are Your BUTS?

BUT…I get distracted

BUT…I need more structure

BUT…Other people keep pestering me

BUT…I don’t have what I need (materials or support)

BUT…It’s not fair!

BUT…What about my friends?

BUT…There are too many technological demands

BUT…My parents procrastinate

Chapter 5: But What If…?

The power of possibility

What if all else fails? (20 Don’ts)

Where to look for more information

1) More about motivation

Top motivators

Inspirational reading

Brain-building experiences

2) More about time management

Drawing the line

Organizational strategies

Habits and practical tactics

3) More about developing personal strengths

Cool heads prevail

Bringing out the best

Last words

References

Endnotes

About the Author

Editorial Reviews

Joanne Foster... is one of those few authors who take a multi-modal approach to the problem, because let's face it- there ARE sometimes good personal reasons for procrastinating, good external reasons for putting things off, and robust reasons for delaying those insipid things that need to be done! If you want to be more productive, get things done - and get your kids and students to " get er done" - then pick up a copy of this book - without delay.- Dr. Michael F. Shaughnessy, Professor at Eastern New Mexico University; Editor, Gifted Education International

All teens will enjoy this quick, light, practical guide to overcoming procrastination. Whether they delay what needs to be done only on occasion or make a regular habit of it, they will find that Joanne Foster has come to the rescue with great tips to inspire, motivate and most important, break free of procrastination. Easy to read, understand and apply, the strategies in Bust Your Buts will be appreciated for a lifetime. -Sarah Chana Radcliffe, M.Ed.C.Psych., Author of "The Fear Fix"

Sensible solutions for all different types of procrastinators. This book is full of the right skills and resources to address procrastination. A must-have for teens—and educators and parents. It is such a usable guide that anyone could use it effectively. - Sylvia Kwan, Teacher

Bust your BUTS is just the book we've been waiting for! Full of tips and pointers, this book is immediately useful to teens who ruminate over the myriad reasons to avoid starting that project. Joanne Foster has pinpointed many of the common reasons why teens procrastinate. With compassionate understanding, the author acknowledges the difficulties of the 'BUTS' and then expertly addresses these concerns with tips that are 'doable' in a step-by-step manner. This is a book I would highly recommend to students, parents and educators.- Barbara Williams, Special Education Consultant, and Program Lead for Learning Disabilities, Gifted, and Enrichment

Finally! Some practical advice to help teens who are stymied by procrastination. It’s easy to read, and being able to flip around the book BY DESIGN without a chronological approach, is user friendly. There’s a wide variety of inspirational quotes, and plenty of useful advice to help students take responsibility. Every teen should read this book. - James V. McManamy, High school teacher

USE THIS BOOK! We all know the “buts” because we fall back on them all the time. What this book provides are the “tips.” They are realistic, practical, and easy to follow. Don’t procrastinate. Read this book today. - Judy Winberg, Educational Consultant

From the Publisher