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The Physics of Productivity: Newton's Laws of Getting Stuff Done

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James
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The Physics of Productivity: Newtons


Laws of Getting Stuff Done
by James Clear Get free updates of new posts here

In 1687, Sir Isaac Newton published his groundbreaking book, Mathematical


Principles of Natural Philosophy,
Philosophy which described his three laws of motion. In the
process, Newton laid the foundation for classical mechanics and redefined the way the
world looked at physics and science.
What most people dont know, however, is that Newtons three laws of motion can be
used as an interesting analogy for increasing your productivity, simplifying your work,
and improving your life.
Allow me to present this analogy as Newtons Laws of Productivity.

Newtons First Law of Productivity


First Law of Motion: An object either remains at rest or continues to move at a
constant velocity, unless acted upon by an external force. (i.e. Objects in motion
tend to stay in motion. Objects at rest tend to stay at rest.)

In many ways procrastination is a fundamental law of the universe. Its Newtons first
law applied to productivity. Objects at rest tend to stay at rest.
The good news? It works the other way too. Objects in motion tend to stay in motion.

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When it comes to being productive, this means one thing: the most important thing is
to find a way to get started.
started Once you get started, it is much easier to stay in motion. [1,
2]

So, whats the best way to get started when you are stuck procrastinating?
In my experience, the best rule of thumb for getting started is the 2-Minute Rule.
Rule [3]
Heres the 2-Minute Rule adjusted for productivity: To overcome procrastination,
find a way to start your task in less than two minutes.
Notice that you dont have to finish your task. In fact, you dont even have to work on
the primary task. However, thanks to Newtons first law, youll often find that once you
start this little 2-minute task, it is much easier to keep moving.
Here are some examples
Right now, you may not feel like going for a run. But if you put your running
shoes on and fill up your water bottle that small start might be enough to get you

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out the door.


Right now, you might be staring at a blank screen and struggling to write your
report. But if you write random sentences for just two minutes, then you may find
that useful sentences start to roll off your fingers.
Right now, you might have a creative block and be struggling to draw something.
But if you draw a random line on a sheet of paper and turn it into a dog, then you
might get your creative juices flowing.
Motivation often comes after starting. Find a way to start small. Objects in motion tend
to stay in motion.

Newtons Second Law of Productivity


Second Law of Motion: F=ma. The vector sum of the forces on an object is
equal to the mass of that object multiplied by the acceleration vector of the object.
(i.e. Force equals mass times acceleration.)

Lets break down this equation, F=ma, and how it can apply to productivity.
There is one important thing to note in this equation. The force, F, is a vector. Vectors
involve both magnitude (how much work you are putting in) and direction (where that
work is focused). In other words, if you want to get an object accelerating in a
particular direction, then the size of the force you apply and the direction of that force
will both make a difference.
Guess what? Its the same story for getting things done in your life.
If you want to be productive, its not merely about how hard you work (magnitude), its
also about where that work is applied (direction). This is true of big life decisions and
small daily decisions.
For example, you could apply the same skill set in different directions and get very

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different results.

Note: the idea for this image came from artwork created by my friend, Oliver Emberton, in his
wonderful post titled, Life
Life is a game. This is your strategy guide.
guide. Thanks Oliver!

To put it simply, you only have a certain amount of force to provide to your work and
where you place that force is just as important as how hard you work.

Newtons Third Law of Productivity


Third Law of Motion: When one body exerts a force on a second body, the
second body simultaneously exerts a force equal in magnitude and opposite in
direction on the first body. (i.e. Equal and opposite forces.)

We all have an average speed that we tend to perform at in life. Your typical levels of
productivity and efficiency are often a balance of the productive and unproductive
forces in your life a lot like Newtons equal and opposite forces.

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There are productive forces in our lives like focus


focus, positivity
positivity, and motivation
motivation. There are
also unproductive forces like stress
stress, lack of sleep,
sleep and trying to juggle too many tasks at
once.
once

If we want to become more effective and more productive, then we have two choices.
The first option is to add more productive force. This is the power through it option.
We gut it out, drink another cup of coffee, and work harder. This is why people take
drugs that help them focus or watch a motivational video to pump themselves up. Its
all an effort to increase your productive force and overpower the unproductive forces
we face.

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Obviously, you can only do this for so long before you burn out, but for a brief moment
the power through it strategy can work well.
The second option is to eliminate the opposing forces. Simplify your life,
life learn how to
say no,
no change your environment,
environment reduce the number of responsibilities that you take
on, and otherwise eliminate the forces that are holding you back.

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If you reduce the unproductive forces in your life, your productivity will glide forward
naturally. Its like you magically remove the hand that has been holding you back. (As I
like to say, if you eliminated all of the things distracting you from being productive,
you wouldnt need tips on how to become more productive.) [4]
Most people try to power through and hammer their way past the barriers. The
problem with this strategy is that youre still dealing with the other force. I find it to be
much less stressful to cut out the opposing forces and let your productivity naturally
flow forward.

Newtons Laws of Productivity


Newtons laws of motion reveal insights that tell you pretty much everything you need
to know about how to be productive.
1. Objects in motion tend to stay in motion. Find a way to get started in less than 2
minutes.
2. Its not just about working hard, its also about working on the right things. You

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have a limited amount of force and where you apply it matters.


3. Your productivity is a balance of opposing forces. If you want to be more
productive, you can either power through the barriers or remove the opposing
forces. The second option seems to be less stressful.
James Clear writes a weekly newsletter about the science of habit formation and
how to use behavioral science to improve your health, creativity, and productivity.
Click here to leave a comment.
comment

Sources

1. Psychology studies have also revealed that it is easier for us to stay in motion once we
have started. Actually, what the studies show is that our human brains have a strong
urge to finish tasks that we start. We dont like leaving things unfinished or partially
done. This is a widely research phenomenon known as the Ziegarnik Effect, named
after the Soviet psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik.
2. After writing this post, I found out that Stephen Guise has also written about the idea
of objects in motion, stay in motion in his book, Mini Habits.
Habits
3. The 2-Minute Rule originally comes from David Allens best-selling book, Getting
Things Done.
Done
4. This idea of analyzing supporting and opposing forces, which is sometimes referred to
as a Force Field Analysis, was first thought up by Kurt Lewin. This is the same man
who is responsible for Lewins Equation.
Equation

Thanks to Rob Norback for sharing the idea behind the third law of productivity, which
sparked this post. And to Sir Isaac Newton for being a man ahead of his time and for being a
bold mofo who owned his rockstar hair.
hair

James Clear writes about science-based ideas for living a better life and building habits

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that stick. If you enjoyed this article, then join his free newsletter.
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94 Comments

Patty says:
Great truths. Love the classic physics approach to productivity. Some eternal truths cross
platforms-which you just proved. Thanks!
REPLY

Trevor says:
Love your diagrams James.
Had to think about the final one until I realised the box had moved closer to the Effective
end of the Productivity spectrum.
Maybe Fb could be Fb- (for Fb minus) or Fbdownwardspointingarrow?
Anyway the message is clear.
Cheers,
Trevor
REPLY

James Clear says:

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Fair point. Im still trying to get better at labeling my drawings. Thanks for the
feedback, Trevor.
Great to have you reading!
REPLY

Oleg says:
You should add a scale on the line. Or at least a zero point.
REPLY

Adan Ova says:


I hate those ideas in which they wrongly associate exact science with human behavior.
This, however, is genius. It was a pretty clever way of showing some of the forces that drive
our motivation and work. I loved this article.
REPLY

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Laurent says:
Another great article James, very very well done indeed!!!
Im inspired by the 3rd rule which you stated that productivity is a balance of opposite
force, it makes me realized that Ive been chasing so much things in my life before.
Eliminate counter force, not to force yourself to put more force.
Thanks James. =)
REPLY

Anand R Ekbote says:


Very nice!! You explained the other side of the great Newtons law.
REPLY

Daniel Toh says:


Thanks James, your articles are always so well thought out and useful. Imagine how
productive you will be when one eventually utilises all 3 laws! Keep em coming!
-Dan
REPLY

Melane says:
Hi James,
I love all your articles thanks so much. This one is extra good! Its so true and so
interesting. I live by all this positive stuff and by using a name like Newton makes me feel,

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Yeah, I just have to think like him and I can do it! Really great!
REPLY

Ved says:
Simple and effective. I need to get off to doing things which are just piling in my to-do list.
REPLY

Mark says:
Great article James, your writings have really helped my productivity levels.
Quick question, what app do you use for your drawings in your articles?
REPLY

Tebogo says:
Hi,
Just joined.
Nice post, I like how you took something from science and turned it into a lesson. Great
stuff.
REPLY

Erika says:
Thanks, that was another helpful email. I am really enjoying them obviously some more
than others, but I always enjoy reading them and hearing about your own struggles has also

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been helpful. So keep up the good work, I am sure there are a lot of other people you are
also helping with your work.
REPLY

Thomson Muriyadan says:


Really interesting comparison James. That 2-minute rule is just perfect to get things
moving. I also like how you are thanking contributors and acknowledging sources (as per
your new resolutions). Your stuff just keeps getting better and better. Cheers!
REPLY

Eswar says:
Great truth and well connected to Newtons laws.
REPLY

Nithiy says:
The law of physics put on for another good use. I remembered Newtons laws for my school
and uni exams and probably now I would remember them for life. Well done.
REPLY

Santhosh Thatipelli says:


Thanks James for sharing this intellectual article.
I realized that all I got only way of second option for this I need to get motivation every time
on work.If i fail in getting motivation,i faced defeats.But based on your second option it will
be every easy to get success.

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I love this article.


REPLY

Dennis says:
thanks for this article. i found it very useful.
REPLY

Dubem Menakaya says:


Ha wasnt expecting that that was dope! Kept it simple and thats what its about! Great
way to start my day and Im going to take these 3 core elements forward with me from now
on.
Thanks James!
REPLY

Venugopal says:
Excellent interpretation of facts, James. It is a crisp and powerful way to put things in right
perspective. Thanks very much for the presentation.
REPLY

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Joan says:
Yet another well-written post. I really look forward to reading your work. Thanks for
another great article.
REPLY

Don says:
So Im torndo I go for Newtons rock star look (love the link) or your hairstyle? Youre
both super bright guys that Id like to be more like.
Seriously, great post and excellent follow through on your commitment to include more
drawings.
Regards, Don
REPLY

Emri Pamundur says:


The addition of drawings is brilliant! Nice post.
REPLY

Patty says:
Wow! That is an excellent application. My biggest problem is getting started. Ive always
followed the 15-minute rule set a timer for 15 minutes and do something. But I like your
2-minute rule better.
REPLY

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Amirreza says:
Im pretty sure that you will become a very nice and impressive writer and life
coach, so keep up the good work and make us more educated by your very nice stuff
REPLY

NMG says:
Very clever. This is a great article! I really enjoyed it.
REPLY

Claudio says:
Well thought out. This can be applied to just about any endeavour.
REPLY

Corwin says:
Hi James,
I really enjoy your articles, keep up the great work.
Unfortunately, the second law is only partially correct, and I think this is a golden
opportunity to help teach others the full form. The sum of the forces on a system is actually
the time derivative of the linear momentum, i.e. F = d/dt (mv). http://www.grc.nasa.gov
/WWW/k-12/airplane/newton2c.html For a system with constant mass, that reduces to F =
ma. But when the mass flow rate of the system is non-zero, you can use the chain rule to
compute the full expression: F = mdot v + m a. I think you can pull both terms into your
productivity analogy still. And you can also tie this into your analogy of the first law
regarding the momentum of productivity, since force is the rate of change of the

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momentum. Another nice tidbit: work is defined as force times distance.


Another term to consider is impulse: an instantaneous change in momentum. So a very
small impulse in the beginning of your task may be enough to get you going. Other
applicable terms include the resting coefficient of friction vs kinetic coefficient of friction:
the resting coefficient is greater than the kinetic coefficient. http://www.pstcc.edu
/departments/natural_behavioral_sciences/Web%20Physics/Experiment%2005web.htm
All of these facts were hammered into my head while studying for my PhD qualifying
exams, so its really interesting to see them applied them to productivity.
REPLY

James Clear says:


Thanks for sharing Corwin! Always nice to have a physics PhD in the audience.
Interesting that you mention work being force applied over a distance. I was very
close to writing about that example.
Thanks for reading,
James
REPLY

Marcos says:
Hi James
Good post!
What I liked the most, though, were the graphics you are using. Ive read a previous post
which you describe them but you didnt give any clues about how we could do the same.
What do you do to draw it? Are you drawing by hand and scanning it or using a software?
Best regards.

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Papi says:
Hi James.
Excellent piece. I am not quite sure what are my opposing forces.
Would you be able to give me a list of the most common opposing forces then I can isolate
what could be pulling me back?
I greatly appreciate your work.
Thanks.
REPLY

Gerald says:
This is brilliant!
I read your articles for a while now and you already helped me a lot!
Thanks James!
Cheers,
Gerald
REPLY

Claire says:
I used to write a magazine column about technology, and the hardest part was always the
opening sentence. I discovered that the best way for me to get past that was to write This is
the opening paragraph. And then start on the second paragraph, where the meat of the

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article would begin. Sometimes when I was through, I discovered that the second
paragraph worked just fine as an opening; other times, the opening paragraph was easy to
write once the rest of the article was complete.
REPLY

Godisaniron says:
You were doing great (even including the notion of vectors in the Second Law) until you
reached the Third Law, then the analogy fell apart.
The concept of equal and opposite forces is NOT about externally applied forces acting on a
body. It is about forces that oppose the forces you apply. You push on a wall, the wall pushes
back on you; if it didnt, youd fall through it. It has to do with maintaining equilibrium and
balance.
REPLY

James Clear says:


This is a fair point and I thought about this (external vs. internal system) as I was
drawing the images. In the end, I decided to stick with the analogy because the
point wasnt to give a physics lesson, but to use the general principle to get you to
think about the opposing forces in your life. Do you simply try to power through
them with more force? If you simplified and eliminated some of the opposing
forces would it be easier to be productive?
Hopefully I didnt lose the message by making a less-than-perfect analogy. Thanks
for reading!
REPLY

Katherine Razzi says:

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Dear James,
Ive been reading your articles and they are truly inspirational. This last one on Newtons
Law of Productivity really hit the WOW factor for me. True enough, even on a more simple
level, when I work around my house, even though I didnt really want to or started being
lazy and tired, I find that once I begin, Im doing more and more than the day permits and
keep working until Im exhausted however, like I always say, a happy tired because Im
glad at what I was able to accomplish on my day off. Now, I need to apply that to other
works in my life too!
REPLY

Thomas says:
Really excellent article, intelligent thoughts elegantly articulated. I will be reading this a few
times and endeavouring to practice the solutions offered. Thank you, James, please keep
this tremendous work coming.
REPLY

Sajed says:
Dear James,
Ive been reading on your blog and I have to say this is probably one of the greatest articles
youve written. I mean what a revolutionary way to approach work and it just fits! Im going
to think deeply about my situation and apply it.
Thanks,
Sajed
REPLY

Adam Duncan says:

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James,
Thank you for taking the time to deliver another writing that is rich in wisdom.
My inner dork fully appreciated Newtons Laws an how they apply to our life.
Your writings create clarity in my life each and every week. Im really grateful to be apart of
your fan base.
All the best,
Adam Duncan
REPLY

Iris says:
James = (clear + brilliant) x 100
REPLY

Juan Magno says:


The visuals do help with the understanding of the laws. I enjoyed how you brilliantly apply
Newtons Laws to enhance the possibilities of continual growth in once life to avoid
stagnation. Thank you!
REPLY

Rob says:
Love this post! One of the best ways I know to remove opposing forces for me is browser
plugins that block your access to web sites during certain hours. It takes the mindless
surfing exit path away.

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Glenn says:
That moment when you realise what is making your life challenging and how to deal with it.
remove the opposing forces.
Thank you.
REPLY

Fallevoz says:
Thank you for this brief, but so energetic message. Lesson #3 is just great.
REPLY

Ahmed says:
Awesome.
REPLY

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Lou says:
Interesting concept. Im an engineer, and I liked it but so you know Newtons Third Law ,if
the x & y Axis is 0,0 Positive forces in the Y direction go up and Negative forces go down, X
forces to the right are positive and negative forces to the left. The Physics of Productivity
should be reversed.
Just Saying!
REPLY

James Clear says:


Good point! Thanks Lou.
REPLY

Daniel says:
Great post thanks!
Focus on one thing first and start improving from there.
REPLY

Michael says:
This is a great post James beautifully written, easy to understand and right on point in
todays world of overwhelm and stress. I always remember what the late Zig Ziglar said,
Motivation follows the action not the other way round.
Start taking action and the motivation will soon flow.
Thanks.

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Debra says:
James,
Thanks you for your insights regarding the Newtons Laws of Getting Stuff Done.
Have you done some research and study regarding Quantum Physics? I would like to see
your insights about how to apply Quantum Physics into our daily life.
Would it be possible to do that? I will really appreciate.
Debra
REPLY

Sinead says:
James,
Ive been reading your articles for ages now, just want to thank you so much!! Ive learned
so much from you every week, you make me believe its all achievable.
Cheers,
Sinead
REPLY

Jeremy says:
Great stuff as always, thanks mate
REPLY

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Norma Chavez says:


WOW!!!!! Thanks James, this one spoke crystal clear to me as I continue moving forward
with my life. But I want to take this opportunity to let you know that I read all your mails,
over and over, when I am riding the subway or the bus.
I started to read them when I was googling: motivation to lose weight, I was back then
struggling emotionally and physically with pain, so when I hit search, Bam!!! I read your
name for the very first time in the Huffington Posts, from then, I went to your website and
then search for you on YT.
The results and benefits in reading all your mails? Ok, let me see: I lost 70 pounds, I eat
clean, go to the gym 6 times a week, good grades in college, and the list goes on and on.
You may think I am very young, but no, I am a single 56 years old mom and empty nester.
Life is wonderful with its ups and downs and this mail about the laws of motion, is helping
me to continue improving my life journey.
Thank you,
Norma Chavez
REPLY

Enwongo Ettang says:


Thank you James for your wonderful blog post. I rarely comment on blog posts but this one
was really helpful.
Thank you for adding value.
REPLY

Erica says:
Can I Just say I love, love, love your articles! I look forward to your articles, ESPECIALLY

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Mondays!
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Dan Vuksanovich says:


Hi James Great article. Ive used a variation of the 2-minute rule for some time now to
avoid procrastination. I start my day by accomplishing something tiny, regardless of what it
is. Maybe its taking the garbage cans out to the curb. Maybe its returning a phone call. Just
that one checked box leads to an entire day of productivity.
REPLY

Mona Lisa says:


Excellent post. Good information that I can implement right away and keep my head
around.
REPLY

Behary says:
Thanks James for really useful tips. I wish that I read this article ten years ago especially the
second law.
REPLY

Sten Dieden says:


Another stellar piece by our ingenious friend James Clear do keep in motion, please!
REPLY

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Chow says:
Great article. Love how well you write. The diagrams are bonus.
Thanks,
Della
REPLY

shanaz says:
Another great article I have ever read.keep writing James
REPLY

Arvind Kumar Sharma says:


I am very unknowingly doing just that; inching forward, however little is possible on an
occasion. Just Google arvindatma for my invention.
REPLY

David says:
To remove the opposing forces, I recommend a daily meditation session.
I enjoyed this, good read.
Thanks,
David
REPLY

Eddy says:

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I always subscribed to the idea of working smart instead of working hard. Newtons theory
explains with clarity what working smart is and how to work smart.
REPLY

NunoB says:
Just brilliant.
REPLY

Erickson Fonseca says:


Loved this article I never thought about it that way!
Thank you James.
REPLY

Yosi says:
Nice and wise.
REPLY

Ben says:
Absolutely inspiring.
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Chris says:

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Concise and applicable!


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Andrew Kidd says:


Thanks for taking the time to share this, James. As a concept engineer, your article appeals
on all kinds of levels!
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Rex says:
Thank you for a wonderful article. Its exactly what I need right now: to get started, choose
what and where to put my energy and to let go of any physical or mental quicksand. Its a
great formula to get back on track to finish daily and project tasks.
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Warrick Pleash says:


Insightful, succinct, mind expanding,visual and simple to apply Just Brilliant ! Well I
suppose it should be its Einstein after all
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Ashwini says:
Excellent comparison.
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Farid says:
Beautiful! Well done it all goes to prove the UNITY in Cosmos from the micro to the macro
all are complying the Universal Laws. As Ali the founder of Sufism in Islam and prophet
Muhammads nephew and son in law said All knowledge is but a SINGLE POINT.
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Godfrey Kigozi says:


Dear James,
Since physics almost rules the world, this article is spot on. Here in Uganda (and I think
most of Africa), we tend to overlook these truths. Your illustrations with diagrams make it
even simple and fun to understand the facts stated.
Thanks!
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Peter says:
Thanks for this simple presentation. Ive been using the 3 Laws to encourage my
ESL students to write. Its an excellent motivator just knowing theres an empirical
truth behind the approach!
The diagrams are excellent!
Keep it simple.
Peter
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Sunit Moghe says:

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Superb, bravo man.


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Carolyn says:
Awesome and simple Im so happy I found this site! You talk about everything Im
struggling with and love in such a straight forward manner that still makes an impact. Look
forward to being an avid reader here!
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Stuart says:
Elegantly put with a nice nod to Kurt Lewins force field analysis from the 1950s in that
Third Law. Thanks.
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Jason Love says:


Great idea using physics as a metaphor for behavior. I am currently reading a book that
talks about the magic of the universe and how if you pretend something will happen or
has happen it will happen.
This article is similar in that it promotes getting started (objects in motion) but without the
B.S. of talking about a magical universe.
That was the long way for me to say I love the article.
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Julia Tobey says:

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In my experience, powering through as Ive done too many times to count only leads
to burnout, exhaustion and sometimes depression. Your advice to simplify is really
wonderful and I agree whole-heartedly. Focus on the important stuff, remove distractions,
and be sure to take care of your own body, well-being and loved ones before any work.
Thanks James! Really enjoy your blog!
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Jamie says:
Good analogies on laws 1 and 2, but it falls apart on the 3rd law. The 3rd law analogy
abandons physics entirely. There should be an equal and opposite reaction to your increase
in Fa or addition of Fc.
My point in making this comment is not to be overly critical, rather it is to suggest that the
analogy with the 3rd law is incomplete, and if you dig deeper you can probably find the true
analogy. Do it for us, your readers! If you increase Fa, or add Fc, is there an equal and
opposite force (a consequence)? If you decrease Fb, does something automatically happen
to Fa?
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James Clear says:


Fair points, Jamie! And I appreciate you holding me to high standard. Ill try to
raise the bar next time. Thanks for reading!
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Foli says:
I remember reading something about Newtons law of productivity, but your article is more
elaborate and clear. Thanks James for this insightful article. Youve helped me identify my

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opposing forces: overwork, stress, insufficient sleep and procrastination. Thank you, James.
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Suzanne says:
Made me feel bad that I was procrastinating by reading this article! Ok, Ill start now by
actually opening the file I am supposed to be working on!
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Jean says:
Thanks for sharing this! Very useful!
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Frank says:
Good stuff!
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M. Thompson says:
Great article. Simple truths for everyday. Keep it up man, youre doing a great service to
mankind.
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Luis Ismodes says:

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Great articles.
Thanks.
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Andre Schnabl says:


This is a great analogy. I could further the dimensions that it is extended to by saying that
knowledge is what gives one the potential energy to overcome static friction and obstacle
would otherwise contribute to frictional losses.
Because Newtons laws were suggested based on the system in a vacuum environment, your
proposed laws of occupational physics could equate/relate air resistance to the distractions
we have and will experience in our own environment.
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Heather Physioc says:


Sometimes my 2 minute kick-start is just opening a file on my computer and getting out a
pen and paper. At times even that is difficult to do, so I really have to psych myself into
opening the file. But once its open and Im looking at it, things start to unfold.
Thanks for posting interesting take on productivity!
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Jay says:
Stumbled upon this site looking for some info on physics to draw metaphors to productive
habits and am glad your site has what I was looking for and more.
I LOVE how you explained the concepts very simply and yet so powerfully. Glad I found this

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Ill be consuming more of this content to fuel my entrepreneurial journey.


Thanks!
Jay
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Alexey says:
Awesome instruction, thanks!
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Denise Green says:


What an incredibly creative blend of geeky and pragmatic brilliance. Im glad you got
startedand eliminated any opposing forcesso you could create this!
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