How to Make Yourself Do the Things You Keep Avoiding, Part I: The Third Pillar of Productivity

There’s that one task for everyone. You see it. You skip it. You promise tomorrow. But tomorrow never shows up. What if getting started isn’t about more discipline? What if it’s about… making friends with gnawing rats?In this episode, we explore how to make dreaded tasks feel more accessible to get started or lingering projects to get completed. What kind of ceiling height is better suited for what kind of tasks? Could a tomato-shaped kitchen timer give you the burst of energy to start that long dreaded project? And what does a pre-lunch setup ritual that only takes one minute have to do with momentum? We’re unpacking all of it—and more—in this episode.If your to-do list has a stale, shame-tinted leftover, this one’s for you. Come sit with the rats. You might be surprised what happens next.Links from the Show!The Influence of Ceiling Height https://assets.csom.umn.edu/assets/71190.pdfTemperature and productivity https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark%3A/67531/metadc882029/Time Surfing - Reference to gnawing rats https://www.timesurfing.uk/#book Hawthorne Works Experiment - Note: most writeups of this experiment attribute the results to the participants being observed rather than the environment changes. Blame either the shifting sands of research or Alex’s faulty memory! https://thedecisionlab.com/reference-guide/psychology/the-hawthorne-effectBoomerang for Gmail boomeranggmail.comBoomerang for Outlook boomerangoutlook.comGot todos? Get GQueues gqueues.com

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Less Busy Lab is the productivity podcast for people who want to get the right things done and still feel calm when the laptop closes.Moah & Alex met at MIT and later went on to build Boomerang, the multi-million-dollar productivity suite used by millions while amassing more than a dozen patents on productivity technology.After fifteen years of leading an efficient team that consistently out-performs its size without burning out, they’ve learned that real productivity isn’t a single system or a 4am morning routine. Alongside parenting two energetic kids together, they continue to hack on their own productivity and enjoy reading research papers with a glass of wine after the kids go to bed.In each episode, they unpack the research behind focus, overwhelm, habit change, task management, and procrastination while sharing honest stories of the methods they’ve tried—what stuck, what flopped, and why. You’ll leave with practical, actionable tips to discover your own “productivity persona,” lift team performance, and feel less busy while getting more done.If you’re looking for thoughtful guidance on getting the right things done faster while feeling less busy, you’ll feel at home here.