Tips for getting and staying productive

Tips for getting and staying productive whatever you do; on a good day, or a bad one.

• Consider the level of complexity.
  If it is your best educated guess that the task at hand should be simple, make sure you do not over-complicate things.
  If, on the other hand, the problem appears to be complex, stop and think before going with the most obvious solution - it is not likely to work.
• Figure out a way to evaluate every little chunk of work as soon as it is done.
  Before getting started, think about what you want to achieve, and what are the steps - of half-hour or less each - to get there.
  Every little step - a few pages of reading or a few lines of writing - consider how the latest chunk of work gets you closer to being done, and how it fits in with the overall plan.
• Pick a time frame.
  Timebox your effort, ideally to less than a day. It does not mean you have to finish by the end of the day, only that you stop and assess your progress at this point.
  Reconsider and adjust your estimates - the level of difficulty, the steps needed, the time estimate, the way to evaluate your work. Set the time frame for the next day's effort.
• Limit time spent being stuck.
  Decide on how long you'll allow yourself to be stuck, and move on after that time. Try a different approach, consult someone, or at least switch to another task and return to the problem later.