
Meet Gwen Bach
Applied Neuroscientist & Procrastination Nerd 🧠Science-Based Organisational Training: Procrastination | Chronic Stress | Goals | No-Fluff, Practical Tools for Overcoming Procrastination
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Gwen focuses on science-backed strategies to overcome procrastination, a common challenge often linked to stress and the stress-procrastination loop. What does she mean by Procrastination? Procrastination typically falls into two categories (Chu and Choi, 2005):
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Active Procrastination: Deliberately delaying tasks while still meeting deadlines, often using time pressure to enhance focus.
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Passive Procrastination: Avoiding tasks due to indecision or lack of motivation, leading to unproductive outcomes.
As the founder of Goals Ninja, Gwen has developed a framework grounded in neuroscience and behavioural psychology that helps individuals and organisations move from intention to meaningful action. Her work focuses on identifying productivity barriers, setting achievable goals, and creating sustainable success. By addressing procrastination with evidence-based strategies, her goal is to empower people to build habits that align with their values and objectives. ​Goals Ninja Blog is a valuable resource where readers can expect straightforward advice, engaging stories, and tools.
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As a Founding Member of ANA, Gwen has supported the Association’s mission since its inception. She is a key contributor to ANA’s social impact efforts, leveraging her expertise to turn research into actionable solutions that drive positive change across sectors.
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Gwen's Social Impact Pledge: 2 - PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AWARENESS
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Suffering in Silence: Masculinity, Mental Health, and Alcohol Self-medication
As part of the ANA International Men's Day Celebration (#IMD2024) Forum, Gwen spoke about particular research that showed many men self-medicate with alcohol to cope with mental health issues, particularly anxiety and depression, often driven by societal norms that discourage vulnerability. Studies highlight a strong link between alcohol use and mental health problems, with alcohol consumption used to manage anxiety, social discomfort, and trauma. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified this behaviour, particularly among those experiencing heightened anxiety and depression. The stigma around mental health and masculine ideals exacerbates the issue, making men less likely to seek help. A comprehensive approach is needed to address this. In this Talk, we will initiate the conversation with a strategy that includes mental health awareness and reducing stigma around seeking support.
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Click the YouTube link below to listen to Gwen's talk.
