My favourite Blogger Darren Rouse has suggested possibly the most remarkable time management strategy I have seen in recent memory.
“Batching”
The basic principle is about grouping tasks by function or similarity and doing them in quick successive order.
Here are some examples of batch “lists” that I would use:
- Blog posting – Peel off group of blog posts in quick order for later posting that week
- Redelegation - Moving multiple websites to a server at the same time
- Workflow - Mindmaping different workflow processes one after the other
- Strategy - Do all your strategy and “Dreaming” at once
In a way, what we are doing here is grouping tasks that rely on very similar brain functions to be completed. For instance, to my mind (no pun intended) it makes no sense to swap constantly from right brain to left brain constantly. Stay to the left for logic and repetitive linear tasks, and the right for creative lateral thinking tasks.
I have found personally it hard to get into programming, but after about 30 mins I’m in and a simple distraction to creatively deal with an issue in my workplace takes me out of the loop again. Stay in the loop by minimising distractions and grouping programming related tasks into a block of time.
This simple strategy is a process of personal development for me, I have found it hard to group and it does require structuring your life and having strong boundaries.
With a bit of discipline I know you can do it!
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
The scrum process is better especially in a programming environment. You should check it out.