You’re working on the most complex problem in computer science: fixing permissions on a deployment pipeline. It’s been 4 days since you started this simple task, and your manager has made it clear that your performance is below expectations. Your colleagues avoid you, fearful of being tainted by your ongoing struggle. Sleepless afternoons and continuous “build failed” messages have left you feeling isolated and hopeless. Even the pouring rain outside your overpriced basement suite mirrors your despair. But today, you have a plan: clear the credential cache, get the missing elevation, force a permission sync, reset the service connection, downgrade the auth library, set everything up again, then roll back.
As you meticulously work through 23 documentation tabs, you notice a red bubble on Instant Messenger (IM). Without thinking, you click it and see a message from Mitch, your PM, asking for a document link. Recognizing this as a potential distraction, you ignore it and proceed with triggering the elevation command. You carefully read the logs, trying to grasp what’s wrong. Moments later, your manager calls you to fulfill Mitch’s urgent request. You complete the task, but where were you before this interruption?
Like everyone, you sometimes struggle to maintain focus. This challenge is even more pronounced as a manager constantly switching contexts, or as a developer juggling multiple antagonistic projects with lengthy processes. You often start tasks only to be interrupted, forgetting what you were initially working on. By 5PM, you feel drained and realize you’ve made minimal progress since 8AM. Frustrated, you suspect you might have ADHD. Starting work on poorly documented projects only exacerbates the interruptions and procrastination.
In an attempt to counteract this, you began documenting your daily tasks and thoughts in an Obsidian note-taking app. You began listing every command you ran, their results, and your next steps. This habit, practiced over 3-4 months, revolutionized your workflow, enabling you to resume work efficiently. Writing not only helps organize your thoughts but also restores context quickly when switching between tasks. This simple technique has profoundly impacted your productivity, and you find yourself eagerly anticipating interruptions to again marvel at your genius.
But let’s be honest—writing isn’t a groundbreaking idea. People have been advocating for plans and diaries for generations. Every scientist and innovative thinker keeps some form of record. Writing notes of what you're doing and thinking, and reviewing them before resuming work, can restore your focus. It’s not about reading every word you write, but about creating structure and caching your progress.
If you’re having trouble switching between tasks or maintaining focus, try documenting your actions and thoughts. Read your last few lines when you resume. It might help you gain clarity and speed up your workflow, or maybe it’s just that you need crutches. Either way, it’s worth a try in these interrupting times.
Key Points
Remember these 3 key ideas for your startup:
- Prioritize Documentation: Consistently writing down your tasks, thoughts, and steps can dramatically enhance your focus and productivity. This simple habit enables easy resumption of work and helps you stay organized in high-distraction environments. Check out these best tips for working remotely.
- Minimize Distractions: Recognize and block distractions like unnecessary messages or interruptions. Set boundaries to keep your focus on critical tasks. This discipline is crucial for startups where every minute counts. Learn how to overcome productivity barriers with these productivity hacks.
- Use Practical Tools: Implement note-taking and project management tools like Obsidian to track progress and streamline your workflow. It helps in restructuring your tasks and thoughts, leading to better management of time and resources. For a comprehensive solution, choose Edworking, the best and smartest decision for SMEs and startups to be more productive. Edworking is a FREE superapp of productivity that includes all you need for work powered by AI in the same superapp, connecting Task Management, Docs, Chat, Videocall, and File Management. Save money today by not paying for Slack, Trello, Dropbox, Zoom, and Notion.
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