It’s a common misunderstanding that motivation leads to action.

Ironically, it is action that leads to more action, motivation, and more

action.

http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/2011/110407/full/nj7341-127a.html

State of the Art Analysis on Procrastination Induced-Stress Solutions

Common Negative Health Effects of Procrastination

• Correlated to depression, anxiety, vulnerable self-esteem

• Lowers immune system

• Increase use of stimulants like caffeine and energy drinks

• Increase sleep debt

• Other negative symptoms that you have felt due to

procrastination

http://www.jyi.org/volumes/volume2/issue1/features/tham.html

Top Suggestions to “Kick Procrastination” - William Knaus, EdD, American International College Professor

• Map out process of change: – Why are you uncomfortable about digging into a project or changing your behavior? Write

down the reasons.

• Know yourself: – What diversions will you probably adopt?

• Brute force one step at a time: – when actual physical resistance occurs, when every bone is your body is resisting the task,

force yourself to put one foot in front of the other. This is similar to overcoming irrational

fears.

• Break up the task into segments: – seems more manageable

• Involve others: – increases your chances of doing the task

• Set an end reward. http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/its-never-too-late-to-stop-procrastinating

Awesome suggestions, but what are the top existing tools?

• David Allen Getting Things Done Products• 43things.com• Nozbe.com

NOTE: The following are great existing products/solutions to procrastination, but I believe they can be improved.

These solutions are extremely common:

They simply tell. The flaw in these

solutions is that they do not elicit a long-

term behavior change of you doing.

Stress solutions provided:

-Mapping out process

-Predicting diversions

-One step at a time

-Breaking up task into segments

-Involving others

43things.com

http://www.43things.com/

Combines goal-setting with social media.

Flaw: Helps initial action of posting goal but leaves users alone until goal is succeeded. User is still alone in the doing part.

Stress solutions

provided:

-One step at a time

-Involving others

Nozbe.com

http://www.nozbe.com/index

Seems like the great organization & time management tool.

Flaw: Again does not help the user “do.” Nozbe should help users plan out everything, but planning and executing are very different.

Stress solutions provided:

-Mapping out process

-One step at a time

-Breaking up task

-Involving others

What’s missing from these top three solutions?

• Getting users to take action on the actual task that is being procrastinated

• Why are reading materials, setting goals, using a to-do-list not primary solutions? – They supplement the action– In other words, they beat around the bush– In other other words, it is like an entrepreneur “playing

start-up” – buying the sofas, the desks, etc to make the office look nice. Everything, but execution.

Sources

• http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/its-never-too-late-to-stop-procrastinating

• http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/2011/110407/full/nj7341-127a.html

• http://bit.ly/hheW31• http://rostilfc.blogspot.com/2010_11_01_arch

ive.html

Contact Info

• Twitter: dngoo• Personal co-blog: ooby.posterous.com

http://www.makeliterature.com/blog/twitter-backgrounds-themes