Nudge Me 1.0: A Solution to Procrastination-Induced Stress

Nudge Me 1.0: A Solution to Procrastination-Induced Stress for College Students

David NgoStanford UniversityMay 6, 2011

Nudge Me 1.0 Background: Goal

The primary goal was to help users create 

initial momentum of doing work.  

Hypothesis: If users are able to work for 5 minutes, then the

initial momentum will create a continued work flow.

Step 1: Soft Trigger 

Change text ringtone.

To remember to text "Nudge me" whenever they are studying.

Step 2: Trigger Target Behavior 

Text.

Awesome.

Step 3: Feedback

Posting Updates of Work

In 5-15 minutes, "What work did you get done?"

"I got into a really good flow so I didn't stop at the 5

minute mark.  I'll send you before/after photos." 

- Joshua Wells

Before...

After.

Nudge Me 1.0: Insights

5 minutes was enough to create initial momentum.

Nudge Me 1.0: Insights

Some users continued to work past 5 minutes because initial momentum was built.  They got into a good work flow (built momentum).

Nudge Me 1.0: Improvements for 2.0

I want to add one feature that I believe will significantly improve

this pilot:  Social Influence

Allowing users to see and "Nudge" each other, I hypothesize several positive improvements...

Increase work results because users are held socially accountable

Motivate other users to get work done, which in turns increases chances of...

Inspire themselves to get work done, which further feeds into the cycle...

Nudge Me 1.0: Improvements for 2.0

Nudge Me 2.0: Mobile Motivation 

via Social Accountability 

Already moving in a Social Direction...

Nudge Me 1.0: Stats

Beginning:

Pilot Duration: 7-Days

# of students signed up: 19

# of Males: 9 

# of Females: 10

Results:

8 students used Nudge Me consistently. 

6 students used Nudge Me once.

5 users who signed up did not convert to using Nudge Me

Contact Information

David Ngodngo11@stanford.eduooby.posterous.com@dngoo

Nudge Me 1.0: Posts from Users

"Got a bunch of reading done, still on a roll & reading." - Ohio State Student

"I got more done in 5 minutes than I would think in the big picture" - University of Virginia Student

"Decided I needed to clean my room.  I got into a really good flow so I didn't stop at the 5 minute mark.  I'll send you before/after photos." - Arizona State University Student

Nudge Me 1.0: Posts from Users

"Still working." - Stanford University Student

"Finished my study abroad app, then spent rest of day on Hulu and Facebook...led me to decide to deactivate my Facebook and block all my "danger" sites." - Stanford University Student

"Done with whole semester worth of art history review.  Now studying for Stat, goal is to review chap 3-8." - Columbia University Student