Work in Progress: The Personal Productivity Science Insights Podcast · Life Management Science Labs

Christina R. Wilson, Ph.D.: Procrastination - Busting Productivity Hacks | Work in Progress #56

·1 hr 11 min·3 clips

Joanna welcomes listeners to Work in Progress and sets up a conversation about productivity hacks and practical ways to beat procrastination and boost efficiency. Chris Wilson joins as a coach with a PhD in conflict analysis and resolution, and her background in relationships, boundaries, and self-limiting mindsets gives the episode a grounded, reflective feel. The discussion stays close to ordinary life. It keeps coming back to what helps when a person feels stuck, overwhelmed, or just reluctant to act. Breathing is one of the first tools they talk about. Chris describes it as a way to move a stressed person out of an emotional state and into a more thoughtful one. Joanna reacts like a curious listener, noting that breathing exercises are not always easy to use in the moment. The episode makes room for that reality: useful habits often need practice before they feel natural. Positive self-talk is another major thread. Chris presents it as something she has taught for years, and Joanna links it to the wider problem of getting out of your own head. They also talk about coaching as a way of interrupting thought patterns that feel automatic. That gives the episode its shape. Productivity is not treated as raw discipline. It is treated as learning how to step back, reframe the moment, and choose a different response. Planning comes up again and again. Chris gives an example of preparing for social situations by expecting discomfort, breathing through the nerves, and reminding yourself that the situation will pass. The advice stays simple and usable. Humming appears near the end as another calming practice. Chris connects it to the vagus nerve and describes it as a helpful way to settle the body. The conversation stays relaxed throughout. It leaves room for affirmation, gentle correction, and small examples instead of hard-edged instruction. The closing section turns toward Chris's contact information and the show's reminders to subscribe, rate, and share. Overall, the episode keeps its focus on practical self-management. It treats procrastination as something you can work with by changing how you breathe, speak to yourself, and prepare for difficult moments.

As heard by us

A calm, practical take on procrastination built around breathing, self-talk, and planning ahead.

This episode treats procrastination as a habit to work with, not a flaw to diagnose. Joanna and Chris Wilson keep the focus on practical tools the listener can use right away, especially breathing exercises, positive self-talk, and thinking ahead about moments that might throw…

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Need a gentler way to break a procrastination loop?

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