The Procrastination Equation

Resources

• How to Get Motivated: A Guide for Defeating Procrastination
• The Procrastination Equation: How to Stop Putting Things Off and Start Getting Stuff Done

Comes from this book.

The Equation

             Expectancy x Value
Motivation = ---------------------
             Impulsiveness x Delay

• Expectancy refers to the perceived odds of getting a reward and whether we expect success or failure.
• Value refers to the pleasantness of doing a task, and the size of its reward.
• Impulsiveness refers to the tendency to get distracted or lose focus on a task.
• Delay refers to the time between the present and a task's reward or completion.

How to Get Motivated

The solution is simple. To increase motivation and decrease procrastination you must:

• Increase our Expectancy of success and the certainty of being rewarded.
• Increase the Value and pleasantness of doing a task.
• Decrease our Impulsiveness by removing distractions and maintaining focus.
• Decrease the Delay of the reward by having more immediate, salient deadlines.