[arocks]

My biggest problem with these list making solutions are what I call the collateral tasks. For example, my list says "Buy a Christmas gift for Jen".

When I start shopping online, I realize that I don't know much about Jen, so I need to call a friend. Lots of discussion later, I finalize on something to buy then I need to think of a personal note to write.

At the checkout, my banking application tells me that my internet password needs to be changed. The whole process gets aborted!

Probably, I exaggerated a little but my point being that each task involves a million micro steps which may or may not be anticipated. No wonder there is a lot of procrastination!

[ak39]

Spot on. We see this a lot in coding activities. Many tasks are usually more complicated than for example "import this file into database, use the imported data to produce the histogram" ... there's bound to be plenty of "collateral" shyte en route. Non-programmers don't usually understand this.

So how to overcome this?

There's no other way than to cognitively "bring to front" the end goal every time you hit a task hurdle that threatens your concentration or that lets you succumb to distraction. But it takes practice to learn that you are in the process of beginning the "shirk move" ... watch out for this. Can you blame yourself when all you've done your whole life subconsciously toggle to other tasks when the going gets tough. Blame evolution for this.

So two things:

1. Know upfront the discrete sub-task/destination you are hoping to achieve for a given finite stretch of time, achieve it and call it the day; and

2. Kak on yourself solid! for being distracted during a tough spell ... speak it out to yourself by enunciating that you are being distracted, mofo. If someone else is doing the disturbing, find a quiet place next time. (Working with kids in the house can be painful).

That's why I am here!

[jmnicolas]

I don't understand what's the problem. That you can't include all the collateral tasks in your lists (I don't think you have to do that to be effective) or that these micro steps are a form of procrastination (in your example only the long phone call appears to be a bit procastinuous, yes I reserve the right to invent my own words ;-)?

[falcolas]

For what it's worth, when I run into a micro task, I add it to the to-do list, and keep a running document with notes which allow it to be context-switched out. It helps, and makes it easier to see progress.