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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Hannah Marriott

The one change that worked: sharing ‘accountability’ notes has made life better for both of us

Hannah Marriott, right, with her friend Rosamund Dean.
‘There’s a manifesting element, too’ … Hannah Marriott, right, with her friend Rosamund Dean. Photograph: Courtesy of Hannah Marriott

When my friend Rosamund suggested we try a productivity technique of leaving each other a voice note every day, I immediately said yes – even if I suspected, deep down, that we might not keep it up for long. I was circumspect because we both lead busy lives, 3,500 miles apart. She lives in London and I’m based in Brooklyn. It is hard to keep in touch sometimes. Even talking on the phone feels tough, what with the time difference and our schedules. Adding another thing to do every day, even a small, two-minute task, felt like a challenge.

The technique is simple enough. You send a friend a voice note in the morning saying what you “did” that day. You always speak in the past tense for accountability. The theory is that once you tell a friend you have “done” something, you will be more likely to follow it through.

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