The "last in, first out" productivity method is a simple system for choosing the next thing to work on by what was added to the queue last. It's a straightforward, and predictable method for organising your tasks that originates from the world of lean manufacturing.
What is decision fatigue?
We are inundated with information from the moment we wake up, to the moment we go to sleep. We are constantly making decisions, but over the course of a day, your ability to make decisions significantly decreases. Your capacity to make decisions is a finite resource that is drained as your energy is depleted. This phenomenon is known as decision fatigue.
The "first in, first out" methodology originates from the world of lean manufacturing where items would flow through a production line, such as a car manufacturing plant. Items enter into the system and are processed in that order. You always work on tasks in the order in which they arrive into the system, no matter the priority, how long each will take to complete, or when the task is due.
Choosing the right thing to work on is a very difficult problem. Evaluating the nuance of every task you've got on your to-do list is cognitively exhausting. The problem is compounded when we are instinctively drawn to tasks with certain characteristic profiles, even if completing those tasks will not be beneficial to our longer term goals. This distinction can be seen in the choice between urgent and important tasks.
The reason why your productivity method failed
All productivity methods advertise themselves as the one true way to solve your productivity predicament. However, no single productivity method is a one size fits all solution. Every productivity method optimises for a specific goal, and so the reason why your productivity method failed is not because the method is bad, it's because it's achieving the wrong goal.
Your calendar is a lossy to-do list
If you are currently managing your tasks via a calendar, but you're feeling overwhelmed and not making progress, you might be using the wrong tool for the job.
Which productivity method is the best?
Productivity is one of those problems that has always remained unsolved. The reason why it's always been an elusive problem is because the very concept of productivity is such a big, fuzzy concept.In this post we're going to look at the evolving nature of productivity, what makes for a good productivity method, and why a fixed productivity method simply does not work.
How to choose your next task as a freelancer
Selecting the right task to work on in any given situation depends on a number of complicated factors, including the specific context you find yourself in. But it's increadibly difficult when your tasks are so completely different from each other.
How to handle task list overload
Getting your tasks out of your head is generally good advice. But if your task list becomes a dumping ground, you will quickly find yourself becoming overwhelmed. Prise is able to recommend the 5 things you should work on next as a priority.
Choosing the right thing to work on next isn't as simple as picking the task at the top of your list. You should choose tasks that match your current mental state and energy levels. But matching tasks to your energy levels can be difficult, and choosing the right task to work on next isn't always clear.