Anne-Laure Le Cunff, an award-winning neuroscientist and founder of Ness Labs, dives into the complexities of procrastination. She challenges the notion of procrastination as a flaw, introducing ‘The Triple Check Method’ to uncover its true signal. Le Cunff emphasizes finding personal ‘magic windows’ for peak productivity and advocates for mindfulness to reframe procrastination as an ally. There’s also a humorous take on the intersection of creativity and legality in entrepreneurial ventures. Tune in for a fresh perspective on productivity!
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Procrastination Is A Signal Not A Flaw
Procrastination has been moralized by centuries of productivity worship and tied to self-worth.
Le Cunff reframes procrastination as a useful signal to listen to rather than a character flaw.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Apply The Triple Check Method
Use the Triple Check to ask whether procrastination comes from the head, heart, or hand.
Then take the matching action: change strategy, redesign the experience, or ask for help.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Fix Head Or Hand Problems Directly
If procrastination is rational (head), redefine the strategy and consult colleagues to brainstorm alternatives.
If it's practical (hand), raise your hand and request mentoring, tools, or training to get the job done.
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“Because of the efficiency worship that we have developed in our industrial age, we are now seeing procrastination as a character flaw rather than what it is, a signal that is worth listening to.”
For centuries, we’ve treated procrastination as proof of personal weakness. A defect to be optimized, to be fixed. But what if we thought of procrastination as a signal, rather than a flaw, suggests neuroscientist and author Anne-Laure Le Cunff.
To decode these signals, Le Cunff introduces ‘The Triple Check Method,’ a diagnostic tool to understand the root cause of the delay. She also reveals how to identify your personal “magic window,” a tool for effortless concentration that can help you rewire against procrastination.
0:00 The moralization of procrastination
1:47 The Triple Check Method
2:29 Using the method to take action
3:24 Looking for systemic barriers
3:55 Finding your ‘Magic Windows’
5:56 Using procrastination to connect with our emotions
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About Anne-Laure Le Cunff:
Anne-Laure Le Cunff is an award-winning neuroscientist and entrepreneur. She is the founder of Ness Labs, where her weekly newsletter is read by more than 100,000 curious minds. Her research at King’s College London focuses on the psychology and neuroscience of lifelong learning, curiosity, and adaptability. Her book, Tiny Experiments, is a transformative guide for living a more experimental life, turning uncertainty into curiosity, and carving a path of self-discovery. Previously, she worked at Google as an executive on digital health projects. Her work has been featured in Rolling Stone, Forbes, Financial Times, WIRED, and more.
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