2025-09-25 00:00:18.026

Freelance journalists Amelia and I, similar in many ways, both faced procrastination. Amelia's involved tedious household chores, while mine were work-related, including a dreaded email to an interviewee. Inspired by a tweet about 'forcing parties,' we decided to try it. For one hour, we tackled our most avoided tasks, holding each other accountable. Initially, the atmosphere was serious, but after Amelia completed a task, we used a novelty website to inject energy into the process. Neuroscientist Ewa Lombard explains the success, citing reward substitution (combining unpleasant tasks with social interaction), time constraints (overcoming perceived task complexity), and the Yerkes-Dodson law (optimal performance under moderate arousal). The time limit and the social aspect were key. The party shared similarities with body doubling and hackathons, both known for boosting productivity and creativity through social interaction and time pressure. Lombard's research on hackathons highlights the energizing effects of social novelty, social proof, and the creation of 'kairos moments.' The forcing party was surprisingly successful. We completed almost all our tasks, including the dreaded email, and experienced a boost in mood and productivity. The competitive element and the momentum of completing tasks were key to its success.