I work a little different than most, as in I don't plan a set schedule in advance or according to a fixed routine. I look to reduce low-efficient workflow and s

I work a little different than most, as in I don't plan a set schedule in advance or according to a fixed routine. I look to reduce low-efficient workflow and seek to maximize optimal workflow taking intuitive, up to date cues from how I'm feeling & doing. Examples: My approach involves compartmentalizing blocks of time through out the day and devoting blocks to separate projects. When I'm working on one project I don't worry about other projects because they have their own blocks. It helps to avoid nagging thoughts that are related to other projects/commitments while one is trying to tend to another. Those nagging thoughts are a major point of stress/distraction/lack of productivity so I make it a point to prevent and counteract them. Each dedicated block is like giving permission to tend to one area and one area only. This works as long as I am concrete/clear about it. In between blocks I take advantage of mental reboots/refreshers by resting, exercising, eating, socializing etc. Nothing original about that, but it works. Especially if you stop working when you hit a roadblock, or find you're getting tired, switching to rest or to a different project helps is most likely much more efficient than struggling along. If I'm frustrated I know I'm not working optimally and that's a cue to either switch to resting or a different project. I give way to flow, or being in a zone, because it's like to be the most rapid and effective way to get things realized. Whatever is psychologically easy/pleasant to do is probably going to be more effective use of time. Note that that has nothing to do with intellectual difficulty (working on a really hard problem can be fun etc). Of course this doesn't work all day everyday and for everything, but as a general guideline it makes a big difference - at least for me. It's a bit like sailing, I know generally where I want to head, but I work with the wind and weather. It works nice if you have a lot of flexibility and freedom about how you manage your time.