Oh wow, this website! It feels really JD. Down to the library at the end! I’ll explore this more over the next few days.
I’m still trying out ideas related to my don’t-check-things New Year's Resolutions (2025). With mixed success. But here’s the latest, and I think it’s simple enough that it might stick.
The problem (or one of the major sub-problems of the more general one) is that we can bounce from task to task on our computer with the flick of a key, but that all previous work remains where it was. Like not putting your papers back in the drawer before pulling out the next thing. Apps remain open. Tabs clutter the view. Our brain remains in the mode.
In an effort to be more deliberate, I’ve set up a series of tasks. I use Things, but whatever.
Start it
What is it that you’re about to do? Actively begin, as in, don’t just start. Think about it.
My canonical example is a trivial one, but it bites me in the ass all the time and is symptomatic of all other problems. I’m about to go to the shops, but while out I need to return a library book. Most of the time I grab my bag, head out, and realise later that I didn’t bring the book. Even though it’s by the back door.
But this works just the same with computer tasks. If I’m about to write a blog post, I should make sure that this is what my computer is configured for. Is a bunch of other crap open? Am I in the mood? etc.
Do it
There are no details here. This is just a reminder that I am currently in doing one task mode. So if I wander off, hopefully this brings me back.
I have the Things widget on all my devices to remind me which state I’m in, and am still using Timery as per the stalled YouTube series.
Finish it
Don’t just stop and walk away. Tidy up. Put things away. Often this means I engage the ‘untracked time’ timer.
Make things ready for the next thing you start.
I’d like to get to a stage where I’m only starting a task on, say, a quarter-hour. Because this strategy is helpful, but there’s nothing enforcing it. It’s still too easy to flick between tasks.
I wonder if enforcing a minimum block of 15 minutes might help. If you finish a thing early, just chill out. Or clean up! There’s always something to put away. Sort the browser tabs you opened. Switch back to a blank window. Close the apps you were using for the previous task.
Work in progress…