Sequence batches
Within a batch session, start with the easiest or most familiar output to build momentum, tackle demanding outputs at peak cognitive capacity, and save formulaic outputs for the end when pattern-matching remains strong but creative energy wanes.
When This Fires
- When planning the order of items within any batch production session
- When batch sessions lose momentum partway through and the remaining items feel impossibly hard
- When you start batches with the hardest item and frequently abandon the session early
- Complements Complete all preparation before the production session… (pre-session preparation) with the within-session execution strategy
Common Failure Mode
Hardest-first ordering: "Eat the frog! Start with the hardest task!" This works for single-task sessions but fails for batches because starting cold with the hardest item creates maximum starting friction. In a batch, the easy item is the warm-up that makes the hard item accessible.
The Protocol
(1) Before the batch session, sort your items into three groups: Easy/familiar (could do on autopilot), Demanding (requires creative thinking or complex judgment), Formulaic (follows a template, mechanical execution). (2) Start with 1-2 easy items: these are warm-up reps that build momentum. (3) At peak flow (you'll feel it — fully engaged, writing or producing fluidly), switch to demanding items. (4) As energy declines (sentences get harder to form, decisions feel effortful), switch to formulaic items. (5) If the batch has only one type of item, start with the most interesting one to build engagement, then work through the rest in difficulty order.