DISTRACTION ELIMINATION WORKSTATION

A Design Study to Reduce Procrastination

by

Kaiheng Zhang

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© 2020 Kaiheng Zhang
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A thesis
submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for
the degree of Master of Industrial Design
School of Design
Pratt Institute

May 2020
 DISTRACTION ELIMINATION WORKSTATION
A Design Study to Reduce Procrastination

by

Kaiheng Zhang

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Received and approved:

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___________________Date 5 July 2020

Thesis Advisor Signature

Alex Schweder
Thesis Advisor Name

07/08/2020
__ Date_______________
Department Chair Signature

Constantin Boym
Department Chair Name
 CONTENTS
Acknowledgements 3
Abstract 5
1.Introduction:the Definition Of Procrastination 7-10
2.Background: Procrastination In The Digital Era 11-16
3.Research And Analysis 17-18
3.1 The Science Behind Procrastinator’s Mind 19
3.1.1 Task Aversiveness And Mood Regulation 20-23

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3.1.2 Lack Of Assertion 24-29
3.1.3 Risk Taking And Decision Making
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3.2 How To Reduce Procrastination 34-35
3.2.1 Limited The Distraction 36-41
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3.2.2 The Reward System 42-44

4.Design Proposals 45
4.1 Design Directions 46
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4.1.1 Internet Accessibility 47-49

4.1.2 Recreating Working Environment 50-57
4.1.3 Motivation 58
4.2 Distraction Elimination Workstation 59
4.2.1 Portable Workplace & Innovated Environment 60-67
4.2.2 Minimize Smartphone Distraction & Supervision 68-73
4.2.3 Time Visualization & Boost Motivation 74-76
5.Conclusion 77-79
Works Cited 80-81

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 AKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First, I would like to thanks to my thesis adviser Alex Schweder

for his encouragement and continued support throughout the process.
He consistently allowed this thesis to be my work and steered me in
the right direction whenever he thought I needed it. Your mentor will
away stay with me. Thank you for your teaching, support, and kindness.

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I would also like to thank Professor Constantin Boym for his
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valuable and constructive advice during the semesters.
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To my parents, your provide me continuous encouragement

throughout my years of study. Thank you. To my fiancé Likun Hua, your
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love and support have made me become a better version of myself.

This thesis would never been possible without them. Thank you

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ABSTRACT

Due to the increased activity on social media, today’s procrastination

is related to social networks and Internet dependency. It is affecting people’s
work efficiency, confidence, and well-being. However, in the current market,
the solutions for procrastination are still underdeveloped. The majority of

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them are time management tools and apps that rely on smartphone usage,
which will create new distractions. The other solution for boost productivity
is encouraging procrastinators to get “unplugged” while working, which
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is unpractical. Because many tasks today are relay on working with the
computer, connect to the Internet, and communicate with others. Therefore,
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This thesis focuses on finding a solution to getting users to engage with their
digital tools while maintaining productivity. It aims to create a simple object
to help people avoid procrastination during work, boost their motivation, and
build their confidence.
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Keywords:
Procrastination, Internet Dependency, Distraction, Digital Tools, Productivity

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1. INTRODUCTION
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 WHAT IS PROCRASTINATION?

Have you ever told yourself you could just play one Candy Crush
and then start to work?
Procrastination is a word that can recall different people with

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different memories. Maybe you never procrastinated, and this word will
remind you someone from your college, never sleep before the night of
the deadline. Alternatively, perhaps for the procrastinators, this word will
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bring a mix of feelings such as is: “I made the plan for the assignments,
scheduled everything from daily tasks to the final project. I know I should
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start early, but can not help myself postpone it. What has happened to
me?”
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Fig 01, June Silny, What stops me from starting?

www.additudemag.com/why-do-i-procrastinate/

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 So, What is procrastination?
According to the dictionary, procrastination refers to “to
put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done.”

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(“Procrastination.” Merriam-Webster.)
From the perspective of Etymology, “Procrastination” is derived
from two Latin verbs: pro, which referrers to forward, and crastinare which
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referrers to belong to tomorrow. Therefore, the word procrastination
means “to put off until tomorrow.” (“Procrastination.” Merriam-Webster.)
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In the psychological literature, procrastination is also defined as
“putting off impending tasks to a later time even when such practice
results in needless delay.” (Steel, 2007) Therefore, procrastination
indicates someone’s inability to start to work and choose to delay tasks
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even though they know this action is not rational. In this thesis, the act of
procrastination mainly refers to people who intentionally delay essential
tasks (e.g., academic work such as assignments and paper).

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2. BACKGROUND
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 PROCRASTINATION
IN THE DIGITAL ERA

“Do not put your work off till tomorrow and the day
after; for a sluggish worker does not fill his barn, nor one
who puts off his work: industry makes work go well, but a
man who puts off work is always at hand-grips with ruin.”
(Hesiod, Works and Days)

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Procrastination is by no means a new topic but could also show
in new forms. While the Internet, computer, and other digital devices are
becoming indispensable tools in modern lives today, they also gained
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new risks. Internet dependency has become a new form of addiction
responsible for procrastination (Lian and Shuai-Lei, 2018).
In 2011, a research group conducted a study at the Karadeniz
Technical University in Turkey and investigated 398 students. This study
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aims to determine whether “academic self-efficacy and academic

procrastination can act as predictors of Internet dependency among
university students.” (Odaci, 2011). The researchers found out that a
significant inverse correlation between academic self-efficacy and
problematic internet use. That is to say, college students who have a
higher potential of internet dependency also have lower confidence in
the ability to control his/her motivation and behavior academically.

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Fig 02, Maria Baeta, Stop wasting time on social networks

en.softonic.com/articles/procrastinate-productively-facebook-eng

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 Meanwhile, In 2014 a study (Morford,2014) reveals that social media
dependency takes time form studying the most. This study conducted
by the app Stop Procrastinating. This app worked by block user’s

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Internet and limited the time waste on phones to increase productivity.
During this research, researchers analyzed the learning habits of 1500
undergraduate students in the US. Furthermore, they found that social
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network is the leading reason for younger generations’ procrastination
trends.
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Since internet dependency, social media addiction, and abuse

usage of digital tools will increase the possibility of procrastination. Is
there any way to help people reduce the delay of tasks when using the
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Internet, and ultimately improving efficiency? The answer is no. In the

current market, the mainstream solution for this problem is apps like
Stop Procrastinating, which focus on blocking the Internet for their users.
A similar solution also presents a physical product. For example, the
“Pombox.” This smartphone lockbox also works by restricts access to the
Internet to its users. Both of the products claim that by limiting Internet
usage, people will become more productively and more focus on their
tasks.

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Fig 03, Pombox, www.getpombox.com/products/pombox

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 However, The “unplug” is not the optimal solution. Because works
today are more and more involved in connected to the Internet, working
with digital tools such as phones and computers. Limited access to

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the Internet may work for some activities, but not for all. For instance, if
someone wants to research the current Fashion trend, the most effective
way will be browsing the Internet first.

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Therefore, find a way that helps procrastinators use the Internet
and digital tool properly is critical. This thesis aims to design products
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that help procrastinators maintain productivity while gaining access to
the Internet.
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