Every three months, GOOD releases our quarterly magazine, which examines a given theme through our unique lens. Recent editions have covered topics like the impending global water crisis, the future of transportation, and the amazing rebuilding of New Orleans. This quarter's issue is about work, and we'll be rolling out a variety of stories all month.

In the center of our Work issue you'll find a helpful 16 page section: The GOOD Guide to Making Work Better.

For the guide, we talked to three work experts about productivity, procrastination, and getting off your butt and back to work. Click "Next" above to read on.

Expert advice from Scott Belsky

Book and website:

Making Ideas Happen: Overcoming the Obstacles Between Vision & Reality;  the99percent.com.

Personal productivity mantra:

Less ideas, more action.

What three tips can you share to get me off my butt?

1.  Overcome reactionary work flow. The constant inflow of "stuff"—email, texts, tweets, IMs—causes us to react rather than be proactive with our energy. Create windows of nonstimulation in your day to be proactive with your energy.

2. Organize with a bias toward action. Enter every meeting and occasion of creativity with an obsession for capturing "action steps" (tasks). When a meeting yields nothing actionable, question its existence. Keep action steps separate from notes. 

3. Share ideas liberally. The more people who know your ideas, the more accountable you will be to follow through. Use blogs, networks, and social media to spread ideas, gather feedback, and boost accountability.

Does technology improve or impede productivity?

It helps, so long as you remain in charge of it, rather than it taking charge of you.*

What's your favorite way to procrastinate?

Surf the Behance Network (be.net) Gallery.

What does being more productive give you time to do?

I get to talk about my book, now that it’s written. Talking about it is a lot more enjoyable than writing.

Sometimes just thinking about productivity stresses people out. Help?

Remember a few things: The more "organic" your process is, the more attracted you will be to the process and the tools you use. Attraction breeds loyalty. So, productivity is the ultimate DIY project. Embrace the challenge and be creative with how you stay organized.

Expert advice from Daniel H. Pink

Books and website:

Author of A Whole New Mind, The Adventures of Johnny Bunko, Free Agent Nation, and Drive; danpink.com.

Personal productivity mantra:

Get to work.

What three tips can you share to get me off my butt?

1. Do something. Now. A little effort is better than no effort.

2. Momentum matters. It takes three times as much energy to regain momentum as it does to establish it.

3. Stop wasting my time. The only person who can get you off your butt is that butt's owner.

Does technology improve or impede productivity?

Mostly improve.

What's your favorite way to procrastinate?

Answering questions from one of my favorite magazines.

What does being more productive give you time to do?

If I can exercise every day, I'm a happy guy.

Sometimes just thinking about productivity stresses me out. Help?

Nope. Sorry, I can't. The way to feel better is to get to work.

Expert advice from Laura Vanderkam

Book and website: 

168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think; my168hours.com

Personal productivity mantra: 

Do more of what matters. Do less of what doesn’t.

What three tips can you share to get me off my butt?

1. Talk to or research someone who’s achieved a goal similar to yours. What steps did that person follow? Use this as a road map.

2. Start small. Do one thing today. Do one more thing tomorrow. Over a year this adds up (to 365 things).

3. Find an accountability partner—someone who will call and nag you once a week to make sure you’re on track.

Does technology improve or impede productivity?

It definitely improves it. Take journalism, for instance. I first learned reporting before email and cell phones were ubiquitous, and I would spend all day tracking people down, or waiting for them to return calls. The web helps immensely with research; email helps with reaching out to people who don’t like to answer the phone. All these benefits are worth the temptation to indulge in too much Twitter.

What's your favorite way to procrastinate? 

Twitter, Facebook, surfing the web. Since occasionally I get article ideas this way, I can lie to myself that this is work.

What does being more productive give you time to do?

The best tip I learned while researching and writing 168 Hours was to do less. Seriously. I have chosen a small number of priorities—my family, my writing, running, and my volunteer work—to fill my time. I try to go all in on those, and do as little else as possible.

Sometimes just thinking about productivity stresses people out. Help?

If something doesn’t bring more joy and meaning to your life, don’t do it. There’s no point in coming up with a better system for doing laundry if, fundamentally, you hate washing clothes. Moonlight and use the money to pay for a wash-and-fold service instead.