What I learned from the COVID vaccine is that seeing something twice separated by frequency is a pretty good model for other things. So instead of bookmarking

What I learned from the COVID vaccine is that seeing something twice separated by frequency is a pretty good model for other things. So instead of bookmarking something the first time I see it, I make a mental note, and then the next time I see it, I go add a bookmark or learn more about that. For example, rqlite has been on my radar for a while. I heard about it, thought "that's neat" and promptly forgot its name. Then I saw it again, and decided "ok, I'll install it and see what it's like to interact with". Now I know it well, but if it never came up again, then I wouldn't bother knowing about it. This technique doesn't work for everyone, of course, but it's how I stay sane. For work-related interrupts; inbox, Slack, code reviews... I just do those immediately. If someone is blocked on me, I'm just throwing away money if I make them ask again a day later (since they are probably off to YouTube to chill out or something until I do the thing they asked). I find it very easy to jump back into something, even if I was in the legendary "flow state" at the time. (This is a skill you teach yourself, not an intrinsic aspect of your personality, I think.) Finally, it's worth noting that you don't have to reply to your emails if you dont' want to. Just because someone wants something from you (your time) doesn't mean you have to give it to them. Too much of this, though, and people will stop talking to you. Maybe that's what you want, maybe that's not what you want. As with everything, there is a feedback loop and you are in control of whether it increases or decreases the volume of requests. (I suppose you can do this at work too. "If you don't want to be asked to do something, don't do a good job," they say. But, again, too much of that and you just get fired ;)