You Are Not So Smart

290 - The Intention Action Gap - Britt Frank

Jun 24, 2024

Therapist Britt Frank discusses the intention-action gap, procrastination, and escaping behavioral loops. Strategies like if-then planning, progress tracking, and mindfulness meditation are shared. Procrastination is viewed as a physiological response requiring physical movement to overcome. A three-step formula is provided to combat procrastination effectively.

01:11:05

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Britt Frank

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Quick takeaways

Addressing the intention-action gap involves bridging stated goals with actionable steps for progress.

Procrastination is linked to a physiological freeze response and can be countered by understanding nervous system states.

Setting structured deadlines and pre-committing can combat procrastination tendencies effectively.

Deep dives

The Intention-Action Gap and Building Bridges to Achieve Goals

The podcast episode delves into the concept of the intention-action gap, revealing the chasm between what individuals intend to do and what they actually execute. Despite having clear goals in mind, many struggle to overcome this gap, leading to procrastination and unfulfilled intentions. The episode suggests visualizing goals as opposite riverbanks, emphasizing the need for a structured plan as a bridge to achieve desired outcomes. By breaking down goals into specific, achievable steps, individuals can make progress by taking small, consistent actions towards their objectives.

Debunking the Myth of Motivation and Taking Action

02:27

Embrace Movement and Cold for Productivity

00:59

Effective Strategies for Breaking Unproductive Patterns

01:47

Procrastination is not laziness, but a physiological reality

01:16

Intro

1min

Bridging the Intention-Action Gap

12min

Simple Daily Practices for a Positive Mindset and Productivity

9min

The Evolution of the Intention Action Gap and the Theory of Reasoned Action

4min

Strategies for Overcoming the Intention-Action Gap

2min

Unlocking Potential and Critical Thinking Resources

12min

Understanding Procrastination and Overcoming Its Physiological Roots

24min

Overcoming Procrastination Through Physical Movement

10min

Overcoming Procrastination with a Three-Step Formula

4min

In this episode, we sit down with therapist Britt Frank to discuss the intention action gap, the psychological term for the chasm between what you very much intend to do and what you tend to do instead. It turns out, there's a well-researched psychological framework that includes a term for when you have a stated, known goal – a change you'd like to make in your life – something you wake up intending to finally do or get started doing, but then don't do while knowing full well you are actively not doing what you ought and wish you had done by now. After we discuss this phenomenon and how to deal with it, we get into procrastination and how to escape all manner of dead-end behavioral loops.

The Getting Unstuck Workbook

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