43 Folders

Back to Work

Merlin’s weekly podcast with Dan Benjamin. We talk about creativity, independence, and making things you love.

Join us via RSS, iTunes, or at 5by5.tv.

”What’s 43 Folders?”
43Folders.com is Merlin Mann’s website about finding the time and attention to do your best creative work.

Contexts for academia

What contexts do folks involved in academia find work well? I divided my contexts into "Need brain" and "Don't need brain", but my "Need brain" group seems to need some additional granularity, but I can't quite figure out of what sort.

I've been considering a context that is basically "need at least an hour of uninterrupted time"--but it's rare for that context to actually arise when the term is in session.

Anyway, I was just curious what other people who are academics do in terms of contexts. (I have searched the forums and found some answers, but not quite the answer as to what people find works well)

Thanks

Berko's picture

Level up your contexts.

Break your work down into levels based on the amount of brain power required. @brain and !@brain aren't granular enough in my view. I like the idea though, so I would go with @brain1 @brain2 @brain3 for differing levels of motivation, time, etc. I think any more levels than this might begin to be fidgety.

The two criteria (excluding available tools because you would presumably need the same tools for each level and priority because you would decide that based on the items on your level list) energy and time should be congruent for each level. If you assign something a @brain1 level, then it shouldn't require a lot of time or energy. If you assign a @brain3, then it will require more time and more energy as well.

HTH

 
EXPLORE 43Folders THE GOOD STUFF

Popular
Today

Popular
Classics

An Oblique Strategy:
Honor thy error as a hidden intention


STAY IN THE LOOP:

Subscribe with Google Reader

Subscribe on Netvibes

Add to Technorati Favorites

Subscribe on Pageflakes

Add RSS feed

The Podcast Feed

Cranking

Merlin used to crank. He’s not cranking any more.

This is an essay about family, priorities, and Shakey’s Pizza, and it’s probably the best thing he’s written. »

Scared Shitless

Merlin’s scared. You’re scared. Everybody is scared.

This is the video of Merlin’s keynote at Webstock 2011. The one where he cried. You should watch it. »