In Episode 6, Alex and Moah trace the origin and history of a simple productivity tool that transformed aviation safety, helped land humans on the Moon, slashed surgical fatalities by 47 percent, and saved their own product launches at Boomerang from chaos.

You’ll hear about the 1935 B‑17 disaster that birthed the first checklist for Boeing, the Checklist Manifesto research that turned skeptics into believers, and the sly NSFW surprise Apollo 12 astronauts found on their cuff checklists — one they had to hide from the public.

Along the way, they unpack two types of checklists: read-do vs. do‑confirm and explain when and how you should use each. They will also share three properties that make every checklist more usable and which kind of errors checklists prevent (it’s not errors of ignorance).

Whether you ship code, host events, or just want to stop leaving analytics off your product experiments, this episode will get you a head start on using checklists the right way.

Tune in to learn how a simple 19‑item checklist can save you up to 19 hours of rework.

Links from the Show!

Surgical safety https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2009/09/checklist-for-surgical-safety

B17 to Apollo Missions: https://blog.nuclino.com/the-simple-genius-of-checklists-from-b-17-to-the-apollo-missions

The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande https://atulgawande.com/book/the-checklist-manifesto/

Playboy Playmates on the moon: https://aphelis.net/seen-any-interesting-hills-valley-playmates-on-the-moon-1969/

Checklist Usage Paper: https://aircconline.com/csit/papers/vol11/csit112322.pdf

Picture of Neil Armstrong’s cuff checklist from Apollo 11 https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-media/NASM-SI-2006-11306

Van Halen and Bowl of Brown M&Ms https://www.acadia-software.com/landing-pages/checklists-standardwork/

Tools

Boomerang for Gmail boomeranggmail.com

Boomerang for Outlook boomerangoutlook.com

Got todos? Get GQueues gqueues.com

What do fad diets, New‑Year’s resolutions, and “miracle” morning routines have in common? They all work—until they don’t.

In this episode, Alex and Moah unpack why no single productivity system can serve everyone forever, and how embracing change (like a Buddhist) is the real path to getting more done while feeling less busy. They’ll share why short‑term wins are still wins, how weekly reviews act as an early‑warning system when output stalls, and the hidden cost of clinging to workflows that no longer fit your role, life stage, or team dynamics.

Stop chasing that one weird productivity trick, and pick up a simple framework for building (and refreshing) your personal “toolbox” of tactics. And remember, “better is good” in productivity too.

Links from the Show!

POUNDS : Weight Loss Trial https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2763382/

Quitters Day https://www.techradar.com/health-fitness/tired-of-your-busy-january-gym-strava-reveals-the-exact-date-itll-be-quiet-again

The Fresh Start Effect https://faculty.wharton.upenn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Dai_Fresh_Start_2014_Mgmt_Sci.pdf

Better is good https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VolsV0ox_yw

Tools

Boomerang for Gmail boomeranggmail.com

Boomerang for Outlook boomerangoutlook.com

Got todos? Get GQueues gqueues.com

Still staring at that stubborn unfinished task? Bring in virtual witnesses, set a kitchen timer, or bet money on a cause you despise and watch it finally get done.

In Part 2 of our “Third Pillar of Productivity,” Moah and Alex explore how to set up accountability for yourself with various tools and unconventional techniques. They test-drive low-stakes body-doubling, share how they put up real money on stickK’s infamous “anti-charity” wagers, and unpack why sharing your goal with a friend can rocket completion rates and what research says about commitment devices.

Tune in to learn how the right deadline, partner, or wager turns procrastination into unstoppable momentum and walk away with an accountability toolkit ready for your next leftover task.

Links from the Show!

Writing down goals increasing the chance of success : https://www.dominican.edu/sites/default/files/2020-02/gailmatthews-harvard-goals-researchsummary.pdf

95% success rate https://crossfit306.ca/news-and-events/2019/5/1/be-95-more-likely-achieve-your-goal-with-one-simple-step (We can’t find the actual “study” by ASTD)

Commitment and Consistency Principle mentioned in Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Cialdini

Commitment device and their efficacy research with data from stickK

Tools

Flowclub: https://www.flow.club/

Focusmate: https://www.focusmate.com/

stickK.com: https://www.stickk.com/

Boomerang for Gmail boomeranggmail.com

Boomerang for Outlook boomerangoutlook.com

Got todos? Get GQueues gqueues.com

There’s that one task for everyone. You see it. You skip it. You promise tomorrow. But tomorrow never shows up. What if getting started isn’t about more discipline? What if it’s about… making friends with gnawing rats?

In this episode, we explore how to make dreaded tasks feel more accessible to get started or lingering projects to get completed.

What kind of ceiling height is better suited for what kind of tasks? Could a tomato-shaped kitchen timer give you the burst of energy to start that long dreaded project? And what does a pre-lunch setup ritual that only takes one minute have to do with momentum? We’re unpacking all of it—and more—in this episode.

If your to-do list has a stale, shame-tinted leftover, this one’s for you. Come sit with the rats. You might be surprised what happens next.

Links from the Show!

The Influence of Ceiling Height https://assets.csom.umn.edu/assets/71190.pdf

Temperature and productivity https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark%3A/67531/metadc882029/

Time Surfing - Reference to gnawing rats https://www.timesurfing.uk/#book

Hawthorne Works Experiment - Note: most writeups of this experiment attribute the results to the participants being observed rather than the environment changes. Blame either the shifting sands of research or Alex’s faulty memory! https://thedecisionlab.com/reference-guide/psychology/the-hawthorne-effect

Boomerang for Gmail boomeranggmail.com

Boomerang for Outlook boomerangoutlook.com

Got todos? Get GQueues gqueues.com

Ever feel buried under a mountain of urgent tasks, unsure of what to tackle first—or how to avoid tasks that don’t really matter? You're not alone! In this episode, Moah and Alex dive into the art and science of prioritization.

Join them as they unpack powerful methods like the Eisenhower Matrix, flexible time blocking, and the Ivy Lee method. Hear why some strategies work great (and others don't) through real-life stories about snack-order debates, and Google’s API changes. You’ll learn how to decide what's truly important, what you can safely ignore, and how to adapt when your carefully planned day falls apart.

Leave with practical, easy-to-try tips, and finally start prioritizing the tasks that genuinely move the needle—without feeling overwhelmed.

Links from the Show!

Ivy Lee Story https://jamesclear.com/ivy-lee

MoSCoW Method https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MoSCoW_method

Eisenhower Matrix https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_management#Eisenhower_method

GQueues Eisenhower Template https://www.gqueues.com/templates/eisenhower-method

Boomerang for Gmail boomeranggmail.com

Boomerang for Outlook boomerangoutlook.com

Got todos? Get GQueues gqueues.com

Struggling to switch off at night because unfinished tasks keep buzzing around your brain? It turns out there's an intriguing psychological explanation behind this phenomenon—and it's quietly sabotaging your productivity.

In the first episode of Less Busy Lab, Moah and Alex kick off their three-part series, “3 Pillars of Productivity,” starting with the crucial topic: “Where is My Stuff?” They explore the mysterious Zeigarnik Effect, revealing why our minds obsess over unfinished tasks and how this impacts our daily lives. Can a simple tweak to your nightly routine help you sleep better and significantly reduce anxiety?

Links from the Show!

Boomerang for Gmail

Boomerang for Outlook

Got todos? Get GQueues

Atlassian Survey

Zeigarnik Effect

Mis-En-Place Trello Template

Remarkable

Bullet Journal Template for Remarkable

Bullet Journal System

Scullin Paper on writing down unfinished tasks before bed time