Questions
Frequently asked questions about thinking, epistemology, and cognitive tools. 6,402 answers
What is PERT estimation technique?
Most people underestimate how long tasks take — not because they are careless, but because human cognition is systematically biased toward optimism when imagining future work. Estimation is a skill that improves only through deliberate practice: estimate, track actual time, compare, recalibrate, repeat.
Also asked: time tracking calibrationinside view outside view estimationtime estimation skills
What is planning fallacy?
Add buffer to every estimate and use reference class forecasting.
Also asked: reference class forecastingtime estimation biasproject planning accuracyoptimism bias in planningplanning fallacy
What is two minute rule for tasks?
If a task takes less than two minutes do it immediately rather than scheduling it — because the overhead of capturing, organizing, and tracking it exceeds the cost of doing it now.
Also asked: GTD two minute rule productivityDavid Allen two minute rule taskssmall task managementtransaction cost task managementwhen to do tasks immediatelytwo minute rule for tasks
What is batch processing tasks for productivity?
Group similar small tasks together and process them in one dedicated block, so that setup costs are paid once instead of once per task.
Also asked: task batching efficiencycontext switching cost reductionemail batching productivityshallow work time blockssetup cost amortization personal productivitybatch processing tasks for productivity