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> It’s unsustainable but [...] I was nodding along, including to this bit — and then I thought, why? It echoes my experience of finding it hard to stick to pro

> It’s unsustainable but [...] I was nodding along, including to this bit — and then I thought, why? It echoes my experience of finding it hard to stick to processes like these even when I find the results not just useful but also gratifying. I guess there's something about it that I resist? The sacrifice of spontaneity perhaps? Why do _you_ say it is unsustainable? I've often thought that the most impactful productivity tool for me would be a personal assistant reminding me to follow procedures that I'd previously decided were a good idea. Or barring that, a software equivalent. A personal digital assistant, if you will.

ChrisLTD 3y ago
We’re human beings, not machines. We didn’t evolve with the capacity for 100% focused productivity all the time. Our energy levels ebb and flow. We have to physically move to keep our muscles and bones healthy.
- jeffparsons 3y ago
  But that in itself doesn't seem to be in conflict with "log everything". Unless you're suggesting that logging everything makes you try to be more productive than you should be, and maybe those YouTube breaks and arguing with people on the internet about politics are actually useful breaks or something that make the overall experience more sustainable? I.e. maybe a lot of the stuff you kinda regret when you look back on it actually served an important purpose? I don't actually believe one way or the other particularly strongly. There's just something about the outcome that bothers me because I don't understand it.
  - ChrisLTD 3y ago
    > Unless you're suggesting that logging everything makes you try to be more productive than you should be That was my point. Thanks for wording it better than I could.
medler 3y ago
Well, it felt unsustainable to me. Logging everything by hand was very tedious and it would have been a real pain to keep it up long term. Maybe I could do it if I had some good tools to make the logging easier. I know lawyers are often required to log where their time goes in 15 minute increments, so it’s possible those tools already exist. I should take some time to look into what’s out there.

ChrisLTD 3y ago

We’re human beings, not machines. We didn’t evolve with the capacity for 100% focused productivity all the time. Our energy levels ebb and flow. We have to physically move to keep our muscles and bones healthy.

jeffparsons 3y ago
But that in itself doesn't seem to be in conflict with "log everything". Unless you're suggesting that logging everything makes you try to be more productive than you should be, and maybe those YouTube breaks and arguing with people on the internet about politics are actually useful breaks or something that make the overall experience more sustainable? I.e. maybe a lot of the stuff you kinda regret when you look back on it actually served an important purpose? I don't actually believe one way or the other particularly strongly. There's just something about the outcome that bothers me because I don't understand it.
- ChrisLTD 3y ago
  > Unless you're suggesting that logging everything makes you try to be more productive than you should be That was my point. Thanks for wording it better than I could.

medler 3y ago

Well, it felt unsustainable to me. Logging everything by hand was very tedious and it would have been a real pain to keep it up long term. Maybe I could do it if I had some good tools to make the logging easier. I know lawyers are often required to log where their time goes in 15 minute increments, so it’s possible those tools already exist. I should take some time to look into what’s out there.