How to (Actually) Get Stuff Done (Part I)

Or: How to Write More

People often ask me for advice on meeting their goals. Usually, I’ll indulge them, but if I’m honest, I feel as clueless as the next person.

Here I am, a supposed expert on this stuff. Much of my research is on willpower and motivation, I teach classes on self-control, and I even run an applied seminar on the science of behaviour change. To paraphrase Walter Sobchak—why then do I feel like a fuckin’ amateur when asked for tips? Maybe it’s because we so-called experts on self-control have overplayed our hand, as if we could shake the self-control magic wand and suddenly people’s goals and aspirations will come true. I’m as guilty of that as anyone, but it’s not quite that simple.

Let’s start with a personal example. My sabbatical goals were straightforward: get this Substack off the ground and commit to posting every Wednesday, no exceptions. Ano…