The only thing that reliably works is co-working with another human. This is hard to find and not always possible. The reason it works is that it triggers the "empathy brain," which transfers the importance of the person to the importance of the task. Having an invested person always at your command is impossible, and an AI robot simply doesn't trigger that same empathy. It costs three cents per interaction. It is a…
For me it's not about empathy, it's the external accountability and pressure, I.e. it needs to be someone you're not suuuper comfortable with. But it is by far the best way to motivate myself.
It swings both ways for me. Either super comfortable or uncomfortable.
What doesn't work is hiring a virtual assistant to hold me accountable. As soon as I pay them and they report to me, they are the same loop as my own brain. No empathy brain! :D. This is bleak I know.