Perhaps just knowing that self-forgiveness is healthy is beneficial. A new study found that considering tasks in concrete terms wards off procrastination. For those living in technically advanced societies, procrastination has become a ‘modern malady’: everything must be done now or, even better, three weeks ago. For good or evil there are now endless to-do lists to work through, appointments that must be kept and commitments that have to be fulfilled. Such is modern life.

Many situations in life require you to say NO and stand up for your rights, but because you fear disapproval from others, you comply with their desires and requests. We’ve been taught culturally that saying “no” sounds rude and so we try to be “nice”. But being nice is overrated, especially at the cost of our self-esteem.