Practice context switching

• 2025 goals

Lean into context switching as practice.

I am much more productive if I only have one context for work for a whole day at a time. Ever since having a baby, my time has become more precious. I want to practice getting better at the many necessary context switches I have to do, so that I can use each segment of time as effectively as possible.

I read a book once written by some kind of government intelligence analyst, who recounted his boss taking his own head in his hands and physically turning it between piles of paper to change contexts. I no longer recall the book and/or maybe I’m misremembering completely, but that’s the mental image I have of this.

When it’s time to focus, do that as hard as I can. When it’s time to change focus, change as quickly as I can.

When I decide it is time to switch, or I am switching and there is some resistance or frustration, I will intentionally practice switching contexts as its own skill. I’ll feel positive about the time spent practicing, even if the tasks I’m switching from/to are slow. Credit for practicing, irrespective of success.