--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The main reason we learn any habit, as…" description: "\"“The main reason we learn any habit, as Drs. Frederick Kanfer and Jeanne Phillips tell us in Learning Foundations of Behavior Therapy, is that even a s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea7/neil-a-fiore-33128_habits_the-main-reason-we-learn-any-habit-as-dr_2869773.jpg" --- # The main reason we learn any habit, as Drs. Frederick… ![“The main reason we learn any habit, as Drs. Frederick Kanfer and Jeanne Phillips tell us in Learning Foundations of Behavior Therapy, is that even a seemingly counterproductive habit like procrastination is immediately followed by some reward. Procrastination reduces tension by taking us away from…” quote by Neil A. Fiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea7/neil-a-fiore-33128_habits_the-main-reason-we-learn-any-habit-as-dr_2869773.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea7/neil-a-fiore-33128_habits_the-main-reason-we-learn-any-habit-as-dr_2869773.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea7/neil-a-fiore-33128_habits_the-main-reason-we-learn-any-habit-as-dr_2869773.jpg) > ““The main reason we learn any habit, as Drs. Frederick Kanfer and Jeanne Phillips tell us in Learning Foundations of Behavior Therapy, is that even a seemingly counterproductive habit like procrastination is immediately followed by some reward. Procrastination reduces tension by taking us away from something we view as painful or threatening. The more painful work is for you, the more you will try to seek relief through avoidance or through involvement in more pleasurable activities. The more you feel that endless work deprives you of the pleasure of leisure time, the more you will avoid work.”” [Neil A. Fiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-a-fiore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Procrastination offers short‑term relief from discomfort, reinforcing avoidance despite long‑term costs. **In simple terms:** Avoiding work feels good now, hurts later. Key Takeaway Identify and replace the reward with healthier relief. Themes productivity psychology habit avoidance Mood analytical pragmatic Type self‑help motivational When to use this quote - work deadlines - study sessions - creative projects Key Concepts reinforcement theory self‑regulation Questions to Reflect On - What immediate reward drives your avoidance? - How can you create a healthier shortcut? A Different Perspective Reward substitution can be hard to sustain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Counterproductive Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/counterproductive-habit-3920142/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Learn Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-habit-3920145/) [Leisure time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leisure-time/) [Procrastination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/procrastination/) [Procrastination Reduces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/procrastination-reduces-3920143/) [Reward Procrastination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reward-procrastination-3920144/) ## Related quotes > [“The Now Habit perspective does not accept that laziness, disorganization, or any other character defect is the reason you procrastinate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-a-fiore/the-now-habit-perspective-does-not-accept-that-laziness/) [Neil A. Fiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-a-fiore/) > [In order to become prosperous, a person must initially work very hard, so he or she has to sacrifice a lot of leisure time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/in-order-to-become-prosperous-a-person-must-initially-work-very-hard/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [It's not a man's working hours that is important, it is how he spends his leisure time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/it-s-not-a-man-s-working-hours-that-is-important-it-is-how-he-spends/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“To resist the social pressure now put even on one's leisure time, requires a tougher upbringing and a more obstinate willfulness about going one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/to-resist-the-social-pressure-now-put-even-on-one-s-leisure-time/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [“Ruling the world is overrated. It would really cut into your leisure time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shanna-swendson/ruling-the-world-is-overrated-it-would-really-cut-into-your-leisure/) [Shanna Swendson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shanna-swendson/) > [“There is one question George is asked about life and art and which is more important, and George said art is more important because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-haring/there-is-one-question-george-is-asked-about-life-and-art-and-which-is/) [Keith Haring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-haring/) > [Beauty, my first girlfriend said to me, is that inner quality often associated with great amounts of leisure time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/beauty-my-first-girlfriend-said-to-me-is-that-inner-quality-often/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [If adults are not enjoying something they're doing in their leisure time, they should stop doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/if-adults-are-not-enjoying-something-they-re-doing-in-their-leisure/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [The real problem of leisure time is how to keep others from using yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-lacey/the-real-problem-of-leisure-time-is-how-to-keep-others-from-using/) [Arthur Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-lacey/) > [“Many other inhabitants of the city were similarly afflicted. Every day, more and more people took to saving time, and the more they did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ende-momo/many-other-inhabitants-of-the-city-were-similarly-afflicted-every-day/) [Michael Ende, Momo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ende-momo/) > [14 ways Traditional Marketing fails where Social Media thrives What traditional marketing failed to achieve in the past is being organically achieved in Social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hania-whitfield/14-ways-traditional-marketing-fails-where-social-media-thrives-what/) [Hania Whitfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hania-whitfield/) > [We should abolish 'work.' By that I mean abolishing the distinction between work and leisure, one of the greatest mistakes of the last century,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-zeldin/we-should-abolish-work-by-that-i-mean-abolishing-the-distinction/) [Theodore Zeldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-zeldin/) > [“But it is not glorious lulls that concern me. It is the lulls that have no velocity, that offer no structured reassurance, that bloom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyo-maclear/but-it-is-not-glorious-lulls-that-concern-me-it-is-the-lulls-that/) [Kyo Maclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyo-maclear/) > [Nobody can live in society without conventions. The reason why sensible people are as conventional as they can bear to be is that conventionality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/nobody-can-live-in-society-without-conventions-the-reason-why/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Leisure time is that five or six hours when you sleep at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen-sr/leisure-time-is-that-five-or-six-hours-when-you-sleep-at-night/) [George Allen, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen-sr/) ## More by Neil A. Fiore > [“The Now Habit perspective does not accept that laziness, disorganization, or any other character defect is the reason you procrastinate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-a-fiore/the-now-habit-perspective-does-not-accept-that-laziness/) [Neil A. Fiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-a-fiore/) > [“There’s a myth that time is money. In fact, time is more precious than money. It’s a nonrenewable resource. Once you’ve spent it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-a-fiore/there-s-a-myth-that-time-is-money-in-fact-time-is-more-precious-than/) [Neil A. Fiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-a-fiore/) > [“Notice how quickly your feelings change when you know there is a more immediate and real danger than the possibility of falling. How did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-a-fiore/notice-how-quickly-your-feelings-change-when-you-know-there-is-a-more/) [Neil A. Fiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-a-fiore/) > [“Procrastination is not the cause of our problems with accomplishing tasks; it is an attempt to resolve a variety of underlying issues.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-a-fiore/procrastination-is-not-the-cause-of-our-problems-with-accomplishing/) [Neil A. Fiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-a-fiore/) > [“The typical procrastinator completes most assignments on time, but the pressure of doing work at the last minute causes unnecessary anxiety and diminishes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-a-fiore/the-typical-procrastinator-completes-most-assignments-on-time-but-the/) [Neil A. Fiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-a-fiore/) > [“You’ll need to drop the model of self-alienation that you learned as a child—the one that tells you, “You are lazy and need someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-a-fiore/you-ll-need-to-drop-the-model-of-self-alienation-that-you-learned-as/) [Neil A. Fiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-a-fiore/) > [“Procrastination is a mechanism for coping with the anxiety associated with starting or completing any task or decision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-a-fiore/procrastination-is-a-mechanism-for-coping-with-the-anxiety-associated/) [Neil A. Fiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-a-fiore/) > [“The choice is not working or not working, but which type of work; even feeling guilty because of procrastinating takes some effort. When you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-a-fiore/the-choice-is-not-working-or-not-working-but-which-type-of-work-even/) [Neil A. Fiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-a-fiore/) > [ “It \[the Now Habit program\] cuts through the crippling assumptions of the Puritan work ethic—that your production determines your worth—and the negative Freudian views… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-a-fiore/it-the-now-habit-program-cuts-through-the-crippling-assumptions-of/) [Neil A. Fiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-a-fiore/) > [“Having a fear of failure means you believe that even the smallest error could be evidence that you are a worthless and awful person.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-a-fiore/having-a-fear-of-failure-means-you-believe-that-even-the-smallest/) [Neil A. Fiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-a-fiore/) > [“...I’ve discovered that if you want to reach your true potential, it’s much more effective to ignite a new passion for life than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-a-fiore/i-ve-discovered-that-if-you-want-to-reach-your-true-potential-it-s/) [Neil A. Fiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-a-fiore/) > [“Denis Waitley, the author of The Psychology of Winning and The Joy of Working, who defines procrastination as “a neurotic form of self-defensive behavior”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-a-fiore/denis-waitley-the-author-of-the-psychology-of-winning-and-the-joy-of/) [Neil A. Fiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-a-fiore/) > [“The Now Habit is based on the fact that somewhere in your life there are leisure activities and forms of work that you choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-a-fiore/the-now-habit-is-based-on-the-fact-that-somewhere-in-your-life-there/) [Neil A. Fiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-a-fiore/) > [“I’m not leaving the plane that way,” I said to myself. That’s when I discovered the power of choice—a third place that is neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-a-fiore/i-m-not-leaving-the-plane-that-way-i-said-to-myself-that-s-when-i/) [Neil A. Fiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-a-fiore/) [Explore all 15 Neil A. Fiore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-a-fiore/) ## More Habits quotes > [“Malchut is also the Alma D’Itgalya, “the Revealed World.” Here our latent potential is actualized through behavior and expression.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laibl-wolf/malchut-is-also-the-alma-d-itgalya-the-revealed-world-here-our-latent/) [Laibl Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laibl-wolf/) > [I would drink gallons of coffee a day. Even now, off caffeine, I talk faster than anyone you've ever met. I finally recognized that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-englander/i-would-drink-gallons-of-coffee-a-day-even-now-off-caffeine-i-talk/) [Nathan Englander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-englander/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [I doubt that we Americans can come to terms with our money neuroses without understanding the more florid pathology of the very rich for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-slater/i-doubt-that-we-americans-can-come-to-terms-with-our-money-neuroses/) [Philip Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-slater/) > [Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/winning-is-a-habit-unfortunately-so-is-losing/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [“the mind-numbing routine. It was the castration of thought,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/the-mind-numbing-routine-it-was-the-castration-of-thought/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When it comes to smarts, adolescents like Jesse have plenty. What they lack, however, are some of the brain-based skills that we all need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-guare/when-it-comes-to-smarts-adolescents-like-jesse-have-plenty-what-they/) [Richard Guare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-guare/) > [“I settled into a contented routine of working, spending my free time with Veronica and, back in my student room, wanking explosively to fantasies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/i-settled-into-a-contented-routine-of-working-spending-my-free-time/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Chaos often breeds life, when order breeds habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/chaos-often-breeds-life-when-order-breeds-habit/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [“Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess: Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayer-of-an-anonymous-abbess-lord-thou-knowest-better-than-myself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you're in a meeting and a man talks loudly over you, rather than copying that behaviour and normalising it, what you could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-foster/if-you-re-in-a-meeting-and-a-man-talks-loudly-over-you-rather-than/) [Dawn Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-foster/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) [Browse all 12,567 Habits quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The main reason we learn any habit, as Drs. Frederick Kanfer and Jeanne Phillips tell us in Learning Foundations of Behavior Therapy, is that even a seemingly counterproductive habit like procrastination is immediately followed by some reward. Procrastination reduces tension by taking us away from something we view as painful or threatening. The more painful work is for you, the more you will try to seek relief through avoidance or through involvement in more pleasurable activities. 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