Mental Traps

Mental Traps
By: André Kukla
Doubleday Canada; www.randomhouse.ca
Genre: Self-help, philosophy

Read Mental Traps if you ever:

1. Worry about the future
2. Regret the past
3. Procrastinate
4. Take too long to complete tasks
5. Work too hard
6. Triple-check lists
7. Think of solutions to every outcome you can imagine
8. Do things today that you could do tomorrow

Consult this book to find out the reasons why you falter, worry and overprepare, and start working on solutions. You'll appreciate Kukla's insights into how "common wisdom" and your assumptions can prevent you from reaching your goals or just enjoying life.

The mood you need to be in: At your wit's end wondering how to relax and enjoy life or how to get ahead and become successful.

Read it while you're: Out for lunch, over a long business trip, before bed.

The best part: When you realize you can spend less time on work, have more leisure time and still be more successful.

Other books on your nightstand: Books on topics like setting and achieving goals, working more efficiently, managing time, or an interest in how our beliefs, thoughts and assumptions influence our behaviour and the way we live.

Words to live by: "Not-doing-anything means not having an agenda, not trying to achieve any result. Doing-nothing, on the other hand, occurs when we resolve not to do anything. Since doing-nothing causes us to procrastinate, it would be wise to give up the habit altogether."

In a nutshell: We can think productively or unproductively about any task. Thinking unproductively is always a waste of time that keeps us from taking pleasure in life or from undertaking important work.

By: Miranda Leigh