The productivity snowball
There’s a financial strategy to pay off debt called the “debt snowball method.” Instead of paying off the highest-interest loans first, the debt snowball method has people pay off the smallest loans first. This generates a feeling of momentum.
It may not be the most technically efficient way to pay the least amount of money, but it has proven to be among the most psychologically effective. When people feel they are making progress, and can see the number of loans decreasing early on, they’re more motivated to keep going.
Recently, I’ve found myself with less motivation to work than I’d like. It’s been a busy few months already, and it looks like there’s another busy few months ahead. I’ve been staring at my computer screen, feeling overwhelmed. So I tried a “productivity snowball” method. Instead of working on the most pressing tasks first (it felt like they were all urgent), I worked on the easiest tasks first. This logged some quick wins, and helped me generate momentum for the day.
We are not machines. We are not AI. We cannot always emit exceptionally productive output on any given day. We are susceptible to confusion and discouragement, and this impacts our work. Acceptance of our emotional states helps us design systems that work for humans.
