The Principle
Making desired behavior the path of least resistance works better than discipline. Put your phone in another room instead of resisting it. [79][80][81]
Making desired behavior the path of least resistance works better than discipline. Put your phone in another room instead of resisting it. [79][80][81]
Key Statistic
Smartphone nearby — even turned off — reduces available cognitive capacity [81]
What The Research Shows
Thaler & Sunstein (2008) showed defaults powerfully shape behavior [79]. Johnson & Goldstein (2003) found organ donation rates differ by opt-in vs. opt-out (4.25% vs. 99.98%) [80]. Ward et al. (2017) found smartphone proximity reduces cognition even when off (N=520+275) [81]. Neal et al. (2013) showed context change disrupts habits better than intention [82].
Thaler & Sunstein (2008) showed defaults powerfully shape behavior [79]. Johnson & Goldstein (2003) found organ donation rates differ by opt-in vs. opt-out (4.25% vs. 99.98%) [80]. Ward et al. (2017) found smartphone proximity reduces cognition even when off (N=520+275) [81]. Neal et al. (2013) showed context change disrupts habits better than intention [82].
Common Myths
Myth: "Productive people have more willpower." Reality: They've designed their environment to make productivity automatic [79][81].
Myth: "Productive people have more willpower." Reality: They've designed their environment to make productivity automatic [79][81].
Myth: "Productive people have more willpower." Reality: They've designed their environment to make productivity automatic [79][81].
How Aftertone Applies This
Focus blocks trigger DND automatically. Default view shows today, not overdue backlog. [Coming Soon] Workspace mode changes device settings per block type.
Further Reading
Ward, A. F., et al. (2017). JACR, 2(2), 140–154. DOI: 10.1086/691462
Ward, A. F., et al. (2017). JACR, 2(2), 140–154. DOI: 10.1086/691462
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Try Aftertone free. See what you're capable of when nothing gets in your way.
Helped over 250+ elite performers
Your best work is waiting.
Try Aftertone free. See what you're capable of when nothing gets in your way.