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].
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
Trusted by founders, developers, and independent operators
Your best work is waiting.
Try Aftertone free. See what you're capable of when nothing gets in your way.
Trusted by founders, developers, and independent operators
Your best work is waiting.
Try Aftertone free. See what you're capable of when nothing gets in your way.
Trusted by founders, developers, and independent operators
Your best work is waiting.
Try Aftertone free. See what you're capable of when nothing gets in your way.