EX0001.004 - Procrastination by Optimization
Procrastination by Optimization
Quote
"Le mieux est le mortel ennemi du bien."
Montesquieu[1]
- The desire to something in the best or most optimal way gets in the way of doing the thing itself.
- This is not only procrastination in the sense of delaying starting a task, but also in completing a task, as the added requirements can make the task take longer.
- Creating a new and more interesting task beyond what is required, which may be tedious or part of a larger problem.
- This expression can make relatively simple tasks and balloon them into much larger, more complicated tasks, leading to overwhelm.
Examples
- Instead of just putting away the dishes before guests arrive, you decide that this is the time to organize the utensils drawer.
- Wanting to "future proof" a data survey task by increasing the amount of information gathered, making the survey process take longer.
Discussion
- One challenge with dealing with this expression is that it can lead to overall improvements; more efficient processes, better information, etc. The problem is when the task (or other equally important tasks that are unrelated) are not completed in the time required.
- Impulse lists can help you build awareness of this expression and also give you a list of optimization projects you can address later.
- Use timers to allow a certain amount of time on optimization, and then commit to completing the original task
- Separate the optimization and actual tasks with task splitting, and use importance and urgency to prioritize the tasks.
Sub- and Co-Expressions
| Expression | Description |
|---|---|
| EX0001 - Task Initiation | The act of making a decision to begin a specific task and then taking action to begin the task. |
| EX0001.002 - Procrastination due to overwhelm | The task is perceived as difficult, complex, or confusing, with too many moving parts. |
Mitigations
| Mitigation | Description |
|---|---|
| M0003.003 - Impulse Lists | Listing impulses instead of taking action on them. |
| M0005 - Task Splitting | Breaking tasks into smaller, manageable parts to reduce overwhelm and increase productivity. |
| M0006.002 - Timers | Using timers to better understand the time it takes to accomplish a task or for a sense of timed urgency on a task. |