How to measure procrastination?

rlp10

I want to test different techniques for decreasing personal procrastination. What would be an easy way to measure procrastination so that I can do the comparison?

I would also like to hear suggestions for measuring the inverse i.e. how can I measure getting-things-done-ness.

I want to test different techniques for decreasing personal procrastination. What would be an easy way to measure procrastination so that I can do the comparison?

I would also like to hear suggestions for measuring the inverse i.e. how can I measure getting-things-done-ness.

I doubt there is any easy way; maybe after a long time you could say that technique A or B seems to work for you, but I think there are huge placebo effects at work here. For example, I often feel a bit of a [short-lived] burst of energy after reading one of the self-help books -- almost any of such books (Getting Things Done, The 7 Habits, even Tony Robbins' books), which does not really say much about the efficacy of the specific techniques.

Maybe you have a twin brother or sister who could be the control group?

I think there are huge placebo effects at work here. For example, I often feel a bit of a [short-lived] burst of energy after reading one of the self-help books

Even placebo can be measured. And if the placebo works even when you know it is a placebo... then why not use it?

Suggested experiment: Does reading the same self-help book again increase your productivity again? How much? Are the results different if you read it gain after one week, after one month, after one year?

If the book effect is repeatable, then just buy a sequence of books and make a habi... (read more)

2rlp1014y

Yes, I have had the same experience, although it always seems short-lived. Perhaps it says more about the technique of consuming motivational self-help books, more than the techniques described inside.