The research behind Aftertone.
45 principles from behavioral science, cognitive psychology, and habit research. Each one shapes how the app works. Click any to see the evidence.
Planning & Task Management
Implementation Intentions
Deciding when and where you'll act makes follow-through 65% more likely.
Planning & Task Management
Cognitive Offloading (externalizing tasks)
Writing down tasks with a plan eliminates the mental loops that steal your focus.
Planning & Task Management
Bedtime To-Do Lists and Sleep
A five-minute to-do list before bed helps you fall asleep nine minutes faster.
Planning & Task Management
Time Blocking
Scheduling when you'll work on a task makes completion far more likely than a to-do list alone.
Planning & Task Management
Weekly Review / Planning Rituals
A short weekly review closes open loops, prevents weekend worry, and resets your system.
Time Perception & Estimation
The Planning Fallacy
You will underestimate how long tasks take — even when you know about this bias.
Planning & Task Management
Specificity Effect (concrete vs. vague plans)
Concrete if-then plans succeed 80% of the time versus 50% for vague goals.
Focus & Attention
Attention Residue
When you switch tasks mid-stream, part of your brain stays stuck on the old one.
Focus & Attention
Interruption Recovery Cost
After an interruption, it takes significant time and mental effort to fully refocus.
Focus & Attention
Task Switching Costs
Every time you switch between different types of tasks, you lose up to 40% of productive time.