I recently listened to a podcast on temptation bundling, featuring the work of Katherine Milkman (Wharton).
Temptation bundling is explained here and here by Katherine Milkman, who (I believe) coined the term.
In short, temptation bundling is putting something you want to do together with something you should do.
Temptation bundling can make both activities more enjoyable — you feel better about the want activity because you also accomplished a should activity, and the should activity is less difficult because it is married with a want activity. For example, temptation bundling is what I have been doing with podcast listening; I only listen to podcasts (want) when I workout (should).
Below are a few temptation bundles that might work for professors:
- Drinking caffeinated drinks only while researching;
- Listening to your favorite music only while grading; and
- Eating chocolate only when in faculty meetings.