On: Maker's Schedule, Manager's Schedule (2009)

[pavel_lishin]

I'm like this too, and I hate it - because it means I can't reliably get those four hour blocks.

Not having a schedule isn't a good thing, it just means that if you're ever in an environment where outside factors become significant (new job, new child), your productivity gets fucked.

[wickedsight → pavel_lishin]

I have the same issue. I'm managing a team, but at the same time I'm expected to actively participate toward the sprint goals. Because I keep getting pulled away for meetings, or to help the other developers, I can't get any focus time and my velocity is incredibly low. To the non-developers in my team, it seems like I'm a really slow developer and it's really hard to explain to them that it's really hard to write code ad-hoc.

[pavel_lishin → wickedsight]

I hate to tell you this, but you're probably going to have to commit to writing less code.

If you're managing a team, your time is probably better spent doing that stuff - going to the meetings, helping the others developers, etc.

My current manager seems to be in the same situation as you, and he tends to pick out the shorter, less critical stories to work on.

[wickedsight → pavel_lishin]

Thanks. Unfortunately, though, I'm fully aware of this, it's the people around me however who seem to be unable to accept this fact.

[slgeorge → pavel_lishin]

One suggestion: change the way you think of a schedule. Book in those 4 hour blocks, calendar gym, calendar leaving the office etc.

People tend to start trying to work around the outside of those blocks.

[ericd → slgeorge]

Could you elaborate? I don't quite understand what you're suggesting.

[dredmorbius → ericd]

You have a calendar.

Your 4 hour blocks are scheduled. As committments. And cannot be casually preempted.

[pavel_lishin → dredmorbius]

I'm not sure if that would work for @oftenwrong - they said that one of their problems isn't external interruptions as much as the fact that they can't force themselves to focus on a schedule, and that their focus just kind of comes and goes.

That's the same with me. Having a block of time where I know I won't be interrupted definitely helps, though - and I've been trying to do that more and more at home.

[jgtrosh → pavel_lishin]

I think that's what pomodoro time management techniques aim to address?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique

[mac01021 → dredmorbius]

What if you can't predict when you're going to be able to focus for 4 consecutive hours?

[dredmorbius → mac01021]

That's among the elements worth tracking, as well as factors influencing it.

But it's far easier to concentrate for 4 hours when you've blocked the time and aren't going to be interrupted.

I'll let you work out the rest yourself.