Comments on: How to Do More with Less Time http://blog.primalskill.com/how-to-do-more-with-less-time/ Dream. Design. Code. Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:47:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Simon Stapleton http://blog.primalskill.com/how-to-do-more-with-less-time/comment-page-1/#comment-39045 Simon Stapleton Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:20:54 +0000 http://blog.primalskill.com/?p=479#comment-39045 I guess it does come down to preference and discipline, as Gyorgy sats. I must admit that my discipline isn't great so I have to do the big-ticket-items first or I will never get around to them. The low hanging fruit, if done first, satisfies a short-term need and then I get on with something more 'interesting'. But that's me. I should add that, generally, the big stuff tends to be the most valuable so it's also about prioritization, so I have to accept that I must deal with this first and maintain the discipline. I guess it does come down to preference and discipline, as Gyorgy sats. I must admit that my discipline isn’t great so I have to do the big-ticket-items first or I will never get around to them. The low hanging fruit, if done first, satisfies a short-term need and then I get on with something more ‘interesting’. But that’s me. I should add that, generally, the big stuff tends to be the most valuable so it’s also about prioritization, so I have to accept that I must deal with this first and maintain the discipline.

]]> By: Gyorgy Fekete http://blog.primalskill.com/how-to-do-more-with-less-time/comment-page-1/#comment-39043 Gyorgy Fekete Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:25:21 +0000 http://blog.primalskill.com/?p=479#comment-39043 Your logic isn't right (I hope you don't take this personal...), but time is linear. I mean if you have let's say 3 small tasks that take 1 hour and a complex task that takes 2 hours it really doesn't matter with which one you start <strong>in ideal circumstances.</strong> The problem starting with the easier tasks is that you get tired and when you see the complex task waiting, you just delegate it. But if you start with the complex task, finish it and you see that there are easy tasks that needs to get done, you're more likely to do it. At the end it's a matter of discipline. Your logic isn’t right (I hope you don’t take this personal…), but time is linear. I mean if you have let’s say 3 small tasks that take 1 hour and a complex task that takes 2 hours it really doesn’t matter with which one you start in ideal circumstances.

The problem starting with the easier tasks is that you get tired and when you see the complex task waiting, you just delegate it.

But if you start with the complex task, finish it and you see that there are easy tasks that needs to get done, you’re more likely to do it.

At the end it’s a matter of discipline.

]]> By: Swizec http://blog.primalskill.com/how-to-do-more-with-less-time/comment-page-1/#comment-39042 Swizec Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:17:48 +0000 http://blog.primalskill.com/?p=479#comment-39042 I admit to usually doing the simple tasks first, but I do this so I can later focus on the big difficult task. It's a simple logic really, I can do five small things now and then spend the rest of the day on the one big thing. But if I do the one big thing now, I will almost surely run out of time to do the five small things or will shrug them off for today and shove them to tomorrow. Then tomorrow I'll think "oh I can do this quickly" and leave it for another day. Then the deadline comes and guess what, I have a bunch of small things left to fix, but by now there's so much of them it'd take me a week to sort through :D So yeah, whenever I can, I do the small quick things first. I admit to usually doing the simple tasks first, but I do this so I can later focus on the big difficult task. It’s a simple logic really, I can do five small things now and then spend the rest of the day on the one big thing. But if I do the one big thing now, I will almost surely run out of time to do the five small things or will shrug them off for today and shove them to tomorrow. Then tomorrow I’ll think “oh I can do this quickly” and leave it for another day. Then the deadline comes and guess what, I have a bunch of small things left to fix, but by now there’s so much of them it’d take me a week to sort through :D So yeah, whenever I can, I do the small quick things first.

]]> By: Gyorgy Fekete http://blog.primalskill.com/how-to-do-more-with-less-time/comment-page-1/#comment-39031 Gyorgy Fekete Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:40:04 +0000 http://blog.primalskill.com/?p=479#comment-39031 Totally agreed. Everybody should start with the hardest task and working their way down to the easiest one. Totally agreed.

Everybody should start with the hardest task and working their way down to the easiest one.

]]> By: Simon Stapleton http://blog.primalskill.com/how-to-do-more-with-less-time/comment-page-1/#comment-39023 Simon Stapleton Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:23:50 +0000 http://blog.primalskill.com/?p=479#comment-39023 Sagely advice! There is nothing worse than distractions, whatever your job, but for web developers I agree it can be a killer. Development is about problem solving - elegantly - so every distraction creates a void of solutions. I think it's important to do the most complex jobs first, as we tend to run out of mental energy over time. I think, though, most people do the easy jobs first - the low-hanging fruit - big mistake! The big jobs will always end up at the bottom of the pile as focus makes way for distractions and then collapse! Sagely advice! There is nothing worse than distractions, whatever
your job, but for web developers I agree it can be a killer.
Development is about problem solving – elegantly – so every
distraction creates a void of solutions. I think it’s important to
do the most complex jobs first, as we tend to run out of mental
energy over time. I think, though, most people do the easy jobs
first – the low-hanging fruit – big mistake! The big jobs will
always end up at the bottom of the pile as focus makes way for
distractions and then collapse!

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