# Ep. 255 — the Failure of Cybernetic Productivity  URL:: https://share.snipd.com/episode/da813b36-9146-4910-90e7-82a8f755e771 Author:: Deep Questions with Cal Newport ## Highlights > Episode AI notes > 1. When managing work tasks, whether in a large organization or as an individual, it is important to create a clear distinction between pending projects and current tasks. > 2. Using tools like YouTube can be helpful in managing work tasks and keeping track of projects. > 3. In large organizations, it can be challenging to centralize work management, but individuals can simulate this by implementing their own systems. > 4. Introducing friction, such as limitations or restrictions, can help prevent overload of shallow work and prioritize projects that can be completed quickly. > 5. Setting boundaries, such as office hours and designated communication channels, can help slow down the influx of new projects and prevent overwhelming workloads. ([View Highlight](https://share.snipd.com/episode-takeaways/e0303974-6db2-4a7c-b0b1-93f7538bae01)) > Managing Work Buffer and Introducing Friction - YouTube > Key takeaways: > - YouTube can be a useful tool for managing work tasks > - Centralizing work management is challenging in large organizations but can be simulated by individuals > - Creating a clear distinction between pending projects and active tasks can eliminate the infinite buffer effect > - Introducing friction in the form of limitations or restrictions can prevent overload of shallow work > - Setting boundaries such as office hours and designated communication channels can slow down the influx of new projects > Transcript: > Speaker 1 > Endlessly about YouTube actually a pretty useful If your work buffer is not too big so manage it centrally this is hard to do in big organizations it requires a central Reorg but if you work for yourself you can simulate this have a clear distinction These are things I'm going to work on I can store information about them if I have ideas about them I can update them in the system if someone sends a message relevant to a pending project I can put them on there, but there's a firewall between those and what I'm working on now and the things I'm actually working on is limited You can make that clear distinction and Psychologically it's going to make a difference because it will get rid of the infinite buffer effect All right, the second solution here Reintroduce some friction sometimes this is what you have to Do if you can't get around the infinite buffers They say actually I don't want all of this overhead and shallow work to be faster. I want it to be enough of a pain That I'm not going to bring more projects into my active purview because my my mental association about what they take up is Going to be Differing but it's a pain to work on projects. I can't move through things very quickly. This might mean for example I don't know you can't email me You know here's my office hours. ([Time 0:19:14](https://share.snipd.com/snip/0cb928ee-7fe5-4603-82b2-9966297eb6a8)) - Note: [[YouTube]] --- Title: Ep. 255 — the Failure of Cybernetic Productivity Author: Deep Questions with Cal Newport Tags: readwise, podcasts date: 2024-01-30 --- # Ep. 255 — the Failure of Cybernetic Productivity  URL:: https://share.snipd.com/episode/da813b36-9146-4910-90e7-82a8f755e771 Author:: Deep Questions with Cal Newport ## AI-Generated Summary None ## Highlights > Episode AI notes > 1. When managing work tasks, whether in a large organization or as an individual, it is important to create a clear distinction between pending projects and current tasks. > 2. Using tools like YouTube can be helpful in managing work tasks and keeping track of projects. > 3. In large organizations, it can be challenging to centralize work management, but individuals can simulate this by implementing their own systems. > 4. Introducing friction, such as limitations or restrictions, can help prevent overload of shallow work and prioritize projects that can be completed quickly. > 5. Setting boundaries, such as office hours and designated communication channels, can help slow down the influx of new projects and prevent overwhelming workloads. ([View Highlight](https://share.snipd.com/episode-takeaways/e0303974-6db2-4a7c-b0b1-93f7538bae01)) > Managing Work Buffer and Introducing Friction - YouTube > Summary: > Managing your work buffer in a big organization is challenging, but if you work for yourself, you can simulate a centralized system. Keep a clear distinction between pending projects and current work. Introduce some friction to prevent overload by making shallow work a pain. This helps prioritize and focus on projects that can be completed quickly. > Transcript: > Speaker 1 > Endlessly about YouTube actually a pretty useful If your work buffer is not too big so manage it centrally this is hard to do in big organizations it requires a central Reorg but if you Work for yourself you can simulate this have a clear distinction These are things I'm going to work on I can store information about them if I have ideas about them I can update them in The system if someone sends a message relevant to a pending project I can put them on there, but there's a firewall between those and what I'm working on now and the things I'm actually Working on is limited You can make that clear distinction and Psychologically it's going to make a difference because it will get rid of the infinite buffer effect All right, the second Solution here Reintroduce some friction sometimes this is what you have to do if you can't get around the infinite buffers They say actually I don't want all of this overhead and shallow Work to be faster. I want it to be enough of a pain That I'm not going to bring more projects into my active purview because my my mental association about what they take up is Going to be Differing but it's A pain to work on projects. I can't move through things very quickly. This might mean for example I don't know you can't email me You know here's my office hours. ([Time 0:19:14](https://share.snipd.com/snip/0cb928ee-7fe5-4603-82b2-9966297eb6a8)) Note: [[YouTube]]