#9 is perhaps the best tip (start thinking about your most important task before you goto sleep). Particularly in combination with #3 (do a specific task first thing when you wake up and start at the computer).
I find that 'working momentum' is highest beginning as soon as the computer turns on in the morning. For this reason, each day I will typically schedule 3 hours of focus on one specific task/project/vision; before doing anything else. Trust me, anything you focus on for a solid 3 hours a day will eventually get done... probably sooner than you expect.
I'm not so sure about that. Thinking about work before going to sleep is also a pretty good way to make it hard to fall asleep, especially if it's something stressful. And lack of sleep is my #1 cause of loss of work efficiency.
Exactly. I only fall asleep thinking about a problem if it's something that is "hard". For instance, coming up with an algorithm I haven't been able to get quite right during the day. If I do that, I usually don't sleep very well. My dreams are filled with odd representations of the problem (once, an old man yelling various time complexities at me). When I do wake up, I often have a good fresh new idea to try out.
But, it's taxing. Nothing good has come of sleeping on a stressful problem, or common work where I know more or less what to do.
I personally do the complete opposite - avoid thinking about work stuff before sleep. I believe you should take some time for yourself, doing the thing you like other than working, and thinking about/doing that. Being relaxed and not thinking about problems is the best way for me to get a good night of sleep and be refreshed for the next day. Ofc, there are points where thinking about work before sleep is necessary and/or unavoidable.
Thinking about work all the time, especially before going to sleep, makes me feel like I am living to work, instead of working to live. Setting the boundaries actually made me more productive.
I find that 'working momentum' is highest beginning as soon as the computer turns on in the morning. For this reason, each day I will typically schedule 3 hours of focus on one specific task/project/vision; before doing anything else. Trust me, anything you focus on for a solid 3 hours a day will eventually get done... probably sooner than you expect.