Productivity is an overloaded operator. One of the best methods I have in my personal inventory requires pen and sketchbook ("notebook without ruled lines") an

Productivity is an overloaded operator. One of the best methods I have in my personal inventory requires pen and sketchbook ("notebook without ruled lines") and revolves around keeping detailed, artful checklists and sequences that can easily be turned into checklists, present and floating in the front of my mind. Easily accessible via briefcase/bag, always available for you in your idle moment. I think your question in the original post is more about how to structure your time investiture into your projects. No easy answer -- you must explore what works for you -- in general keep an outcome-oriented approach and focus on being extra productive in the Intensive Innovation Bursts that come with technological work. Productivity is not a jam that is spread evenly over the toast of work, it is more like a giant fruit that suddenly ripens and falls off a tree you spent many months cultivating.