Top 10 Motivation Boosters and Procrastination Killers

Top 10 Motivation Boosters and Procrastination KillersYou have enough enemies when it comes to getting things done—having your own brain plotting against you is just unfair. Hone up on a few strategies, thought exercises, and habits that get you past mental roadblocks and back to productivity.

Photo by CarbonNYC.

10. Pick Good Sounds

Top 10 Motivation Boosters and Procrastination KillersMegadeth doesn't get everyone motivated, and classical is many folks' idea of nap music. Music is a highly subjective thing, but that doesn't mean lots of smart folks have spent time thinking about what kind of music works best for getting things done. Productivity guru David Allen prefers Vivaldi and other Baroque-period pieces that hover around 60 beats per minute. Founding Editor Gina and the editors at our gaming-crazed cousins Kotaku dig the ambience of Music for Airports. And while we've previously tried to tally up the best sounds for getting work done, the ultimate answer may be "Try something new. Not too loud, not too fast or slow." And, for folks like your editor, stuff you don't know the lyrics to. Photo by Ruud Hein.

Nine more great ideas at Lifehacker

Denk at Kennedy Center

The new year kicked off with a recital by Jeremy Denk.

 

Embarrassment of riches this afternoon: historic Met performance on radio; recital tickets at Kennedy Center.Sat Jan 23 18:11:20 via Tweetie

 

Jeremy Denk pleases at Kennedy Center: Bach, Ives, Liszt, and Schumann. "Angelic" passages in Schumann stark contrast to boisterous Ives.Sat Jan 23 21:55:22 via Tweetie

 

Jeremy Denk interviewed by Neale Pearle after recital. To release Ives recording, thoughtful, funny, and a blogger. Plated w/ Argerich.Sat Jan 23 21:59:00 via Tweetie

Perahia at Kennedy Center

In October, I won tickets to a performance by Murray Perahia.

 

Unbelievable luck! Won tickets to WPAS performance by Murray Perahia at Kennedy Center. Bach, Schumann, and more this weekend.Thu Oct 15 18:29:32 via Tweetie

 

Perahia spellbinding in first half of Bach Partita and Beerhoven op. 109. Audience response and buzz is enthusiastic.Sat Oct 17 23:01:33 via Tweetie

 

Chopin my favorite part, especially Etude and Scherzo. Playing here seemed especially free and attractive.Sat Oct 17 23:09:06 via Tweetie

 

Attention flagged during Schumann, but Kinderszenen (?) is not my cup of tea. Perahia got more out of it for me than most.Sat Oct 17 23:10:41 via Tweetie

 

Brahms Intermezzo and another Etude for generous and satisfying encore.Sat Oct 17 23:11:06 via Tweetie

 

Valid theory? Used to listening to younger performers. Feel like they call attention to selves; older artists like Perahia focus on music.Sat Oct 17 23:14:56 via Tweetie