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Physics of Productivity - Newton's Laws of Getting Stuff Done
Physics of Productivity - Newton's Laws of Getting Stuff Done
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James
Clear
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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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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.
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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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.
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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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Leave a comment
Share your knowledge and experience.
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Comment
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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
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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!
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Oleg says:
You should add a scale on the line. Or at least a zero point.
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. =)
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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!
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Ved says:
Simple and effective. I need to get off to doing things which are just piling in my to-do list.
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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.
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Eswar says:
Great truth and well connected to Newtons laws.
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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.
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Dennis says:
thanks for this article. i found it very useful.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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Claudio says:
Well thought out. This can be applied to just about any endeavour.
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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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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
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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
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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
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Iris says:
James = (clear + brilliant) x 100
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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.
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Fallevoz says:
Thank you for this brief, but so energetic message. Lesson #3 is just great.
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Ahmed says:
Awesome.
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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!
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Daniel says:
Great post thanks!
Focus on one thing first and start improving from there.
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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
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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
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Jeremy says:
Great stuff as always, thanks mate
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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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Behary says:
Thanks James for really useful tips. I wish that I read this article ten years ago especially the
second law.
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Chow says:
Great article. Love how well you write. The diagrams are bonus.
Thanks,
Della
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shanaz says:
Another great article I have ever read.keep writing James
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David says:
To remove the opposing forces, I recommend a daily meditation session.
I enjoyed this, good read.
Thanks,
David
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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.
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NunoB says:
Just brilliant.
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Yosi says:
Nice and wise.
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Ben says:
Absolutely inspiring.
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Chris says:
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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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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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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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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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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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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.
REPLY
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Great articles.
Thanks.
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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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Alexey says:
Awesome instruction, thanks!
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