I just read a very interesting article over at PickTheBrain.com on the realities of productivity for "information workers". As a web developer/programmer/whatever-they-call-me-this-week, I fall into this category. One of the main points to the article is that most of us aren't mentally capable of being in super-productive mode for a solid 8 hour day. I agree. I typically get 4-5 hours of good problem-solving work done per day. That is typically in two distinct blocks of time (one early morning, one post lunch). The rest of my "work day" is spent reading/studying or (god forbid) meetings. Sitting and thinking appear as if you're not busy, and therefore, not productive. The article talks about breaking up the day with more re-energizing tasks that most people cannot do in the office. Telecommuting is presented as one solution for this. I certainly do my best work in my studio with the door shut and music blasting ... not in a cubicle, at the top of a stair case where people stop and chat loudly throughout the day.

Anyway ... an interesting read:

Why the 9 to 5 Office Worker Will Become a Thing of the Past

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Lately I've started planning several projects (some musical, some web geekery). The planning is actually quite enjoyable. I make lists, more lists and then add those to lists. My compartmentalized brain is getting its organizational fix...over and over.

OK...lists are made. Tasks have been identified. Which one(s) to tackle first?

Oh dear, my brain can't quite handle this decision. Perhaps I'll make another list of the pros and cons of beginning each task and cross reference it with the desired completion date. Frankly, I've now grown tired of making lists.

Some days (or weeks) I love to just complete tasks, moving through each with swift, machine-like efficiency. Some days (or weeks) I run out of these tasks. My new task, then, becomes identifying other tasks to complete. This is the place from which I have just come.

The transition between the two is a little bumpy this past few days.

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