Why is it that when I am busy, I am also more productive? I mean that I get more done in an hour when I am busy than I do otherwise.
How come you get more efficient at doing something the more you do it? Even creative tasks?
Why does work always take longer than you planned, even if you allow for the fact that it will take longer?
Or to put it another way, why does the first 90% of a project take 90% of the time and the last 10% take the other 90% of the time?
Explain to me why washing up, hoovering, alphabetising my books seem really dull when I have nothing to do but when I have a deadline, they seem like the most exciting activities available.
How do I get back the hundreds of hours I’ve lost playing Civilisation?
Why does Jakob Neilsen say big screens improve productivity but Jeff Atwood says that, paradoxically, they don’t. (I like my big screen and Windows 7’s Start + arrow key system helps me use it really well.)
Coffee makes me sleepy. WTF?
I have a keyboard that requires two hands and a mouse that requires another hand. That’s three. But last time I checked, I only came equipped with two. Why?
Why do Mac users do creative stuff and Windows users do logical stuff? Don’t believe me? Go into any ad agency, web agency, sound studio, edit suite, photography department, graphic design company or brand agency and ask what computers they use. (I have a PC. Microsoft is a client. But it’s still true.) What is it about Macs that clicks with that type of user? Does it make any difference?
Why, when I love silence and personal space, do I get more work done in half an hour on a crowded tube train with my Sony Vaio P11 than I do in half an hour in the office?
How do you know which kind of music will make your more productive and which less? Is there any data?
Why do clients only telephone me when I’m really up against a deadline and I’m actually making some progress on my work. When I’m waiting for the phone to ring, it doesn’t.
If I can type at about 40-50 words per minute (3,000 words an hour), why does it take me all day to do 1,000-2,000 words?
Why do clocks move slower when you watch them?
How did I manage to write 598 posts for this blog in three years when I’ve been flat out busy the whole time. Epic win. There’s always time to share.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Matthew:
You pose Big Questions that run deeper than copywriting. : >
My favorite explanation comes from writer Steven Pressfield who labels all distraction, procrastination and time wasting “Resistance”–a palpable, negative energy we must actively fight. I can’t say I always succeed.
On a more mundane note, I notice that tasks expand in direct proportion to the amount of time I allot them. Do I have two days to write a post? It takes two days. Do I have two hours? It takes two hours. Same post.
That’s such a good point – any task seems to expand to fill the time available for it plus about 10%.
Matthew, the post is simply outstanding!!! I found myself in each statement of yours and it made me smile a lot! BTW, I always go to your blog when I need a positive boost and when I’m sick and tired of work
Thank you!
P.S. It’s so true about Macs. Apple is a client of ours
Glad you like it!
You’re welcome to stop by any time you need a positive boost. M