Less Busy Lab

The Procrastination Doom Loop: How to Break Free (Science-Backed Strategies)

You know you should start that project. You know the deadline is looming. So why are you watching TikTok instead? It's actually not a willpower problem, and it’s not poor time management.In this episode, Alex and Moah dig into the surprising science of procrastination. It turns out that the conventional wisdom about why some of us put things off, wait until the last minute, and even miss deadlines entirely is inaccurate. Instead of doubling down on unhelpful advice, they reveal the tactics that can actually help you get work done on time. Along the way, you’ll learn about a nude French novelist (one of history’s most famous procrastinators), the three types of procrastination (and why only one is harmful), and three evidence-based strategies you can use to break bad habits.If you've struggled with procrastination your whole life, there's hope. And it doesn't need to involve nudity ;)Links from the show!Seminal paper on procrastination https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17201571/Procrastinators’ brain https://neurosciencenews.com/doer-procrastinator-brains-9724/Temptation bundling for exercise https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S074959782030385XMeta analysis of intervention strategies for Procrastination https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1747938X18300472Party tricks and Naked Writing https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2018/dec/30/party-tricks-and-naked-writing-the-eccentric-life-of-victor-hugoGot to-dos? Get GQueues! gqueues.comBoomerang for Gmail boomeranggmail.comBoomerang for Outlook boomerangoutlook.com

How to Use AI Without Losing Your Edge

Microsoft's annual Future of Work report is out, and it's packed with surprising findings about how AI is reshaping the way we work. But here's the thing: the report is mostly good news wrapped in some genuinely unsettling data.In this episode, Alex and Moah dig into the 2025 report and address some uncomfortable questions: Is AI already better than doctors? What happens to your skills when AI does your job? And why are we having more meetings than ever, not fewer?You'll learn the paradoxes of AI and the situations where a shortcut can become a time suck, why meetings are exploding and the counterintuitive data on pandemic work habits and what's changed, and practical tips for staying sharp so you engage cognitively alongside AI and maintain your edge.This isn't another "AI will replace your job" panic episode. It's a thoughtful exploration of what the data actually says, where the hype ends, and what you should actually do about it.Links from the show!Microsoft’s 2025 New Future of Work Report https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/New-Future-Of-Work-Report-2025.pdfProcter & Gamble Study: AI-human teaming https://dl.acm.org/doi/fullHtml/10.1145/3613904.3642414AI performed better than doctors https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39466245/Got to-dos? Get GQueues! gqueues.comBoomerang for Gmail boomeranggmail.comBoomerang for Outlook boomerangoutlook.com

Quitters Friday and How to Conquer the “What the Hell Effect”

Today isn’t just any Friday, it’s Quitter’s Friday, the day when more people abandon their New Year's resolutions than any other day of the year. Only 18% of people report success with their resolutions by year-end, but what separates the successful few from everyone else isn't simply willpower. This episode explores the psychology behind why resolutions fail so frequently and which research-backed methods actually work for building habits. You'll discover the "What the Hell Effect" and learn the pitfalls of all-or-nothing streak-style goals, where most reminder apps fall short, and the surprising role sleep plays in building lasting habits.Whether you've already fallen off the wagon or you’ve maintained your resolution (for now), this episode arms you with tools to plot your own Quitter’s Comeback. Because day 9 of 365 is too soon to give up for good.Links from the show!Quitter's Day research data from Strava https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/a-study-of-800-million-activities-predicts-most-new-years-resolutions-will-be-abandoned-on-january-19-how-you-cancreate-new-habits-that-actually-stick.htmlHerman & Mack’s milkshake study (What the Hell Effect) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-6494.1975.tb00727.xHow sleep affects habit formation https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10374463/Reminders should help you remember your trigger, not act as the trigger itself https://pure-oai.bham.ac.uk/ws/files/71165330/Investigating_the_Impact_IWC_2019_Final.pdfSchedule text messages from your Gmail (it seems some carriers have shut these down, your results may vary!) https://blog.boomerangapp.com/2011/06/schedule-text-messages-from-your-gmail/Got to-dos? Get GQueues! gqueues.comBoomerang for Gmail boomeranggmail.comBoomerang for Outlook boomerangoutlook.com

Why Your New Year's Resolution Will Fail (And How to Fix It Before January Ends)

Most people who make New Year's resolutions fail before February. But what if we told you that success isn't about willpower or motivation—it's about understanding how habits actually form?In this episode, Alex and Moah break down (and argue about) the science behind New Year's resolutions, from ancient Babylonian festivals to modern Stanford research. Discover why Benjamin Franklin's centuries-old method still works, why"it takes 21 days to build a habit” myth is dead wrong, and the five-step framework that converts good intentions into lasting change.Links from the show!Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg: https://tinyhabits.com/How to Change by Katy Milkman https://www.katymilkman.com/bookHabits take 66 days, not 21 days https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ejsp.674Approach-oriented goals are more successful than avoidance-oriented goals https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7725288/What are Americans’ New Year’s resolutions for 2025? https://today.yougov.com/society/articles/51144-what-are-americans-new-years-resolutions-for-2025Got to-dos? Get GQueues gqueues.comBoomerang for Gmail boomeranggmail.comBoomerang for Outlook boomerangoutlook.com

Jagged Frontiers: The 2025 Playbook for AI at Work

Is AI capable of revolutionizing your workflow? This episode examines what the technology is capable of doing and what still feels frustrating. From radically faster resume screening and meeting prep automation, to saving hours on research and making sense of dense docs, Alex and Moah reveal some “easy win” strategies that can start saving you time today. They also explore the jagged edges where AI still stumbles, helping you avoid some frustration.Discover how built-in tools like Gemini and Copilot can instantly boost your team’s efficiency without any technical integrations. Hear candid talk on what automation can (and can’t) replace, differences in payoffs for seasoned vs. new employees, and practical prompts to ensure quality results. AI has improved significantly since ChatGPT was first introduced, so if you were let down by it before, now is a great time to give it another shot.Links from the show!MIT Productivity Study with ChatGPT https://economics.mit.edu/sites/default/files/inline-files/Noy_Zhang_1.pdfAI usage experiment with Customer Support https://academic.oup.com/qje/article/140/2/889/7990658 Jagged Frontier Experiment by Harvard Business School: https://www.hbs.edu/ris/Publication%20Files/24-013_d9b45b68-9e74-42d6-a1c6-c72fb70c7282.pdfGot to-dos? Get GQueues gqueues.comBoomerang for Gmail boomeranggmail.comBoomerang for Outlook boomerangoutlook.com