--- ---  # 4 Ways to Make Yourself More Productive, According to an Expert by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Dec 6, 2016 1:00 PM UTC  Workplace at home office Workplace at home officeGetty Images by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Dec 6, 2016 1:00 PM UTC Ever needed to be productive… but you just don’t _feel_ like it? And you literally end up negotiating with yourself in order to get things done? I end up there all the time. So I wondered: what’s the best way for _me_ to convince _me_ to be more productive? What’s the best way to use the science of persuasion… on myself? I knew the answer was a bit beyond my pay grade, so I called an expert… [Robert Cialdini](http://geni.us/influence) is the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of persuasion. He’s a professor of psychology at Arizona State University and author of the #1 book on influence — aptly titled: [Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion](http://geni.us/influence). When we want to get others to see things our way we spend the majority of time crafting logical arguments and collecting convincing evidence to present to them… and Bob says that’s dead wrong. In his new book [Pre-Suasion](http://geni.us/presuasion), Bob explains that we need to take a 2500-year-old tip from good ol’ [Sun Tzu](http://geni.us/artofwar): --- > “” --- What we do _before_ we try to persuade is often more critical to whether or not we are successful. From [Pre-Suasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade](http://geni.us/presuasion): --- > “” --- So if you’re going to persuade yourself to get more done, you need to think about what you do in _advance_ of starting the task. Talking yourself into doing anything can be tricky because, well, _you_ know what _you’re_ planning. So perhaps we should get started by convincing your _unconscious_ mind to help you out… ## When The Going Gets Good, The Good Stop Going So you’re actually getting some solid work done. You’re pleased with yourself. But you’re also a little afraid that tomorrow you’ll start procrastinating all over again. There’s a good way to make sure that doesn’t happen… Leverage the “Zeigarnik effect.” (Luckily, you don’t have to be able to pronounce it in order to do that.) The Zeigarnik effect is a psychological principle that says _our brains seek closure_. Your unconscious mind wants to feel like you “finished” something — otherwise it will keep thinking about that task long after you’ve left the office. Well, Bob told me a story about a colleague of his who uses those nagging thoughts to her advantage — to prevent procrastination. When she’s writing and the end of the workday approaches, _she stops mid-sentence._ That way her brain is dying to finish that thought. And when she gets to her desk the next day she’s thankful to be able to complete what she started. Here’s Bob: --- > “” --- So take a lesson from those cliffhangers at the end of television episodes. They keep you tuned in for a reason. Your brain wants closure. Don’t let it have it. (To learn the 7-step morning ritual that will keep you happy all day, click [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2016/01/morning-ritual/).) So you know how to turn one productive day into a productive week. But how do you get going in the first place? All it takes is a few magic words… **_Read more:_** [_New Neuroscience Reveals 4 Rituals That Will Make You Happy_](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2015/09/make-you-happy-2/) ## If, When, Then Ever wish you could just program yourself like a computer to do the right thing? Well, we can’t upload Kung fu into your brain, Neo, but we’ve got the next best thing… Before it’s time to accomplish something, create a clear goal statement that includes the place or time something needs to be done and the thing you have to do. Just use the magic words “If/When” and “Then.” * _When I first sit at my desk in the morning, then I will begin the report I have to write._ * _If my uncle starts another political argument, then I will hide in the bathroom._ Sound too simple to work? Wrong. Here’s Bob: --- > “” --- So keep in mind: _“If Eric writes a blog post, then I will read it to the very end and thank him profusely.”_ (To learn how to stop being lazy, click [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/08/how-to-stop-being-lazy/).) So you’ve got an if/then and you’re not giving yourself closure. You’re programmed to get to work and your unconscious mind will make sure you pick up where you left off tomorrow. But what if you still just ain’t feelin’ it? Then you’re going to need the inspiration that can only come from bright yellow squares… **_Read more:_** [_New Harvard Research Reveals A Fun Way To Be More Successful_](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/09/be-more-successful/) ## Sticky Notes Make You Gritty Ever seen a poster like this before? Of course you have. Ever scoffed at one? Probably. (Ever viciously mocked one then set it on fire? Oooookay, maybe that’s just me then…) Well, those trite displays of utter tastelessness actually _work_. When you see “inspirational” pictures like that before you get cranking, you really are more productive. Here’s Bob: --- > “” --- No, I am not here to ruin your office decor. You can get the same effect by scribbling “ACHIEVE” on a post-it note and putting it where you can see it. From [Pre-Suasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade](http://geni.us/presuasion): --- > “” --- (To learn how 5 post-it notes can make you happy, confident and successful, click [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/04/post-it-notes/).) So a post-it note can inspire you to get those tough tasks done and help us all win the war against bad art. But what if that isn’t enough? Want inspiration that’s personalized for you and is proven to bring out your best work? Alright then: let’s talk about Purell… ## Remind Yourself Of Your Commitments Doctors don’t always wash their hands before they see patients. Hospitals tried to get them to be better about it. Signs were put up saying, “Hand hygiene protects you from catching diseases.” Annnnnnd… that didn’t work at all. What did work? Reminding them of their duty to help those they care for. A sign that read, “Washing your hands reduces your patient’s chance of infection” produced a 45% boost. Here’s Bob: --- > “” --- I know, I know — maybe you haven’t taken the Hippocratic Oath lately. And you don’t live by the Bushido Code either. Doesn’t matter. If you don’t have a commitment to remind yourself of, just _make one_. But make it something you’ll take seriously. Need an example? Bob has a personal commitment he used to make sure his book [Pre-Suasion](http://geni.us/presuasion) was something he’d be proud of. I’ll let Bob tell the story: --- > “” --- Wanting to be a good Grandpa might be the _ultimate_ productivity tool. (To hear Bob’s 6 groundbreaking secrets for how to persuade others, click [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/06/robert-cialdini-influence/).) Okay, we’ve learned a lot. Let’s round it up… **_Read more:_** [_How To Get People To Like You: 7 Ways From An FBI Behavior Expert_](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/10/how-to-get-people-to-like-you/) ## Sum Up Here’s how Robert Cialdini says you can trick yourself into being more productive: * **Use the “Zeignarik effect”**: To make sure you don’t procrastinate tomorrow, don’t give yourself closure today. If you stop mid-sentence you’ll… * **If, When, Then**: Program yourself like a computer. For instance, “If I see an opportunity for a lame joke related to psychology, then I will type it.” * **Sticky notes make you gritty**: You don’t need to punish your walls with bad art. Just write “ACHIEVE” on a post-it note. * **Remind yourself of your commitments**: And if you don’t have one, make one. Wanting to be a great grandpa creates great books. Avoiding procrastination and being productive isn’t always easy. Sometimes toughing it out with willpower doesn’t work. But that’s okay. Anything that you know will get you going is fair game. Give some of Bob’s tips a shot. You may need to trick yourself, fool yourself or persuade yourself in order to get those tough tasks finished. As screenwriter Terry Rossio once said, _“My lousy way of getting it done is better than your great way of not doing it.”_ **Join over 280,000 readers. Get a free weekly update via email** [**here**](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD)**.** [_This article originally appeared on Barking Up The Wrong Tre_](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2016/12/productive/)_e._ 4 Ways Into Persuading Yourself Into Productivity ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4590417/productive-persuasion/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4590417/productive-persuasion/"},"headline":"4 Ways to Make Yourself More Productive, According to an Expert","datePublished":"2016-12-06T13:00:30.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-31T10:28:49.027Z","description":"Try pre-suasion","url":"https://time.com/4590417/productive-persuasion/","keywords":["Psychology"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1f82f80f15aa8654/6988b0a1656a3ff8debce0d7/productive-expert-tips.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Eric Barker","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/eric-barker/"}],"articleSection":"Ideas","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1f82f80f15aa8654/6988b0a1656a3ff8debce0d7/productive-expert-tips.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Workplace at home office","caption":"Workplace at home office","creditText":"Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/ideas/","name":"Ideas"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/psychology/","name":"Psychology"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4590417/productive-persuasion/","name":"4 Ways to Make Yourself More Productive, According to an Expert"}}]}] ```