Many aspects of Zorga have very clear, science-backed, peer-reviewed and replicated proof for their effectiveness. Every tool has been used, in one form or another, in real life to the benefit of many. Most of the research is very clear on, for example, the effectiveness of setting goals, building habits, cognitive therapy or on common nutritional deficiencies.

However, recently, many studies of human and personal development have been failing to replicate (big ones, like the “marshmallow test” or “ego depletion”; see one list here and another here). We will keep up to date on the science at https://www.zorga.io/references so they can be updated in real time but regardless of what the science says, real world effectiveness, feedback and improvement is the priority for every aspect of Zorga.

Principles

• The Rokeach Value Survey and the Theory of basic human values on the importance of values (principles)
• Tony Robbins, Ray Dalio and many others have had a lot of influence on the importance of living by principles. 

Direction

• Goal Setting Theory and several similar studies have all shown the value of setting goals, having a vision, a purpose, etc.
• Stephen Covey, Jack Canfield, and Kevin McCarthy have all done important work on Direction, as have many others. 

Action

• Achieving your goals: an evidence-based report and several similar studies have all shown the value of taking action towards your goals. 
• How to Form Good Habits? A Longitudinal Field Study on the Role of Self-Control in Habit Formation and Habit Formation and Change and similar studies have shown the value of creating habits. How are habits formed: Modelling habit formation in the real world shows how long habits take to develop (average of 66 days). Atomic Habits from James Clear is probably the most accessible collection of science of habits.
• Cal Newport and his concept of Deep Work is important for the Daily Action Plan. As is Maintenance Systems:
  The Neglected Half of Behavior Change.
• The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch is an accessible version of The Pareto Principle. 
• Habits free up "mental space" is shown in this study. 
• The Weekly Review is heavily borrowed from Getting Things Done by David Allen. 
• The Zorga Workflow has borrowed heavily from David Allen's Getting Things Done and some from Tiago Forte's Building a Second Brain system.

Feedback

• The importance of good decisions is self evident but Naval Ravikant, Jeff Bezos, Charlie Munger, the work of Edward de Bono (Six Thinking Hats for example) and many more thoughtful people have been emphasizing this for a long time. 
• This study shows that intuition can be learned.

Optimization

Optimize the Body and The Health Checklist

• Vitamin deficiencies
  • “Well, it’s shockingly common, unfortunately. The latest statistics suggest that the majority of Americans are deficient in not just one but several micronutrients. I’ll give you some data on specific nutrients from the Nurses’ Health Study: 100 percent of Americans don’t get enough potassium, 94 percent don’t get enough vitamin D, 92 percent [don’t get enough] choline, 89 percent [don’t get enough] vitamin E, 67 percent [don’t get enough] vitamin K, 52 percent [don’t get enough] magnesium, 44 percent [don’t get enough] calcium, 43 percent [don’t get enough] vitamin A, and 39 percent [don’t get enough] vitamin C.”
  • “Nurses’ Health Study: 100 percent of Americans don’t get enough potassium, 94 percent don’t get enough vitamin D, 92 percent [don’t get enough] choline, 89 percent [don’t get enough] vitamin E, 67 percent [don’t get enough] vitamin K, 52 percent [don’t get enough] magnesium, 44 percent [don’t get enough] calcium, 43 percent [don’t get enough] vitamin A, and 39 percent [don’t get enough] vitamin C.”
  • Percent micronutrient insufficiency from food in US:
    • Calcium: 40.5%
    • Magnesium: 54.6%  
    • Vitamin A: 47.8%
    • Vitamin C: 46.3%
    • Vitamin E: 86.9%
  • Other Studies
    • Micronutrient deficiencies among preschool-aged children and women of reproductive age worldwide
    • Choline Deficiency
    • Massive gain of IQ by correcting deficiencies
    • Antisocial behavior improves by 40% when micronutrients are added to children's diet
    • Declining Fruit and Vegetable Nutrient Composition: What Is the Evidence?

Optimize the Mind and The Mindset Stack

• This entire section has many aspects from cognitive behavioral therapy, rational emotive behavior therapy, Buddhism, Zen and the Stoics. This includes David Burns, Albert Ellis, Jon Kabat Zinn, Michael Singer, and many, many others too numerous to know or acknowledge. 
• People with more grit (perseverance) achieve more. 
• Training in 'concrete thinking' can be self-help treatment for depression, study suggests
• Posture improves mood.
• Not wanting to be healed is called "secondary gain"

Optimize Finances and The One Page Financial Plan

• Most of these principles and tactics are now generally considered commonsense but the Bogleheads forum, this article from Scott Adams and many other financial experts too numerous to credit were important parts of this section. 

Doing Zorga

• Memex or “Commonplace books” Seneca, Aurelius, Thoreau, Reagan, Branson, Newton used them.