Forcing Function
Constraints or mechanisms that compel specific behaviors or outcomes.
Also known as: Behavior forcing, Commitment device
Category: Principles
Tags: habits, principles, productivity, systems
Explanation
A Forcing Function is any mechanism, commitment, or constraint that compels you to take action or behave in a certain way. Examples include: deadlines (forcing completion), public commitments (forcing follow-through), and physical environment design (forcing behaviors). In PKM, periodic reviews are forcing functions for processing notes. The power of forcing functions is that they remove the need for willpower - the structure itself drives the behavior.
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