The Economist article Motivating Minds talks about researchers determining that…
those who were presented with concrete tasks and information responded more promptly than did those who were asked to think in an abstract way.
Moreover, almost all the students who had been prompted to think in concrete terms completed their tasks by the deadline while up to 56% of students asked to think in abstract terms failed to respond at all.
Nowhere does the article mention GTD. Or the phrase Next Actions. But, GTD Next Actions is exactly what is meant by “concrete tasks.”
Those of you who have practiced GTD already know the truth of this.
Those who haven’t practiced GTD really should look into it … turning your abstract thoughts and fuzzy projects into concrete physical actions will give you a huge increase in productivity, reduce your procrastination, and make you feel much, much better.