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How to Stop Procrastinating and Boost Your Willpower by Using “Temptation Bundling”
Article

How to Stop Procrastinating and Boost Your Willpower by Using “Temptation Bundling”

James Clear, 2020


Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Applicable
  • For Beginners
  • Engaging

Recommendation

To exercise or to binge-watch Netflix, that is the question. One behavior you should do; the other, you want to do. Exercising is the healthy option with long-term benefits, but decompressing by watching your favorite show offers immediate gratification – until the guilt sets in, that is. Self-help guru James Clear recommends combining both tasks using a technique called “temptation bundling” to boost your motivation and reduce procrastination. His life hack will allow you to enjoy a guilt-free life of planned indulgences that are psychologically healthy and boast long-term benefits.

Take-Aways

  • The tendency to put off dreaded, boring tasks is a universal problem. A behavioral technique called “temptation bundling” can end this procrastination.
  • Marketers leverage temptation bundling to nudge audiences toward a desired behavior.
  • To create a temptation bundle, list the tasks you dread and those you enjoy, and search for complementary sweet spots.

About the Author

James Clear is the author of Atomic Habits. He writes about a broad range of self-improvement topics, including work habits and decision-making.