Changing One Thing
The record produces a list of problems and the instinct is to fix them all. One change, measured, is the arrangement that works. 4 min
Making a change
One change, sized for an ordinary day, measured against one figure. Several at once means none can be attributed.
6 notes · about 20 min in total
Calendar Blocking, Honestly
Reserving time in the calendar for work. Widely recommended, genuinely useful in two specific situations, and useless in the rest. 3 min
Saying No With Evidence
The main practical use of a personal record: converting a feeling of being overloaded into a statement somebody else can check. 3 min
Batching and Its Limits
Grouping similar work to avoid switching costs. Works well for a narrow class of tasks and is widely applied to tasks where it makes things worse. 3 min
Protecting a Block
One stretch of uninterrupted time, defended properly. The single change with the best return in most records, and the one that fails for predictable reasons. 3 min
When the Change Does Not Hold
Most changes lapse within a month. The reasons are consistent and none of them is weakness, which matters because the usual response makes it worse. 4 min