Glossary
Task batching, explained
Task batching is grouping similar tasks into one block and doing them together, for example all calls between 14:00 and 15:00, instead of scattering them across the day.
What it means
Every switch between different kinds of work costs time and attention; researchers call the leftover focus from the previous task "attention residue" (Leroy, 2009). Batching reduces the number of switches.
How to do it in a calendar
- Collect small tasks of the same kind during the week.
- Give each kind one or two blocks: messages, calls, admin, errands.
- Do them in one go and close the block.
An example
A creator batches all filming into Monday and Wednesday mornings and all editing into afternoons, instead of filming and editing a little every day.
Common mistakes
- Batching deep work with shallow work. Keep them in separate blocks.
- Batches with no end. A batch block still needs an end time.
Where it comes from
Leroy, S. (2009). Why is it so hard to do my work? The challenge of attention residue when switching between work tasks. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 109(2), 168–181.
Questions
What tasks batch best?
Messages, calls, admin, errands, filming, cooking: anything with a setup cost you only want to pay once.
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