The Power of Nagging

Feeling a bit overwhelmed and distraught with all that’s going on in the world today and want to make a change? Know you need to switch out those old light bulbs for low energy ones? Keep meaning to stock your pantry with environmentally friendly cleaning supplies?

A new service called The Nag does just that - it sends monthly reminders to subscribers urging them to finally take the initiative to change their lifestyles in positive ways through “low-effort, high impact actions” around various themes such as food, energy or fashion. Users receive short bursts of information about why they should alter their behavior and a comprehensive list of recourses to help them along the way.

One of the cooler features of the service is its ability to track and quantify the amount of change occurring.

Groups such as businesses, universities and community groups can create a profile and get a unique URL. The Nag’s software recognises anyone who comes through this URL and can offer rigorous feedback on their collective actions and impacts. For example, if ten people from your organisation switch to green energy, The Nag can track that and tell you that, together, you’re saving about 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.

The Nag