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-rw-r--r-- | automation.mdwn | 30 | ||||
-rw-r--r-- | index.mdwn | 12 |
2 files changed, 32 insertions, 10 deletions
diff --git a/automation.mdwn b/automation.mdwn new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e22e1bd --- /dev/null +++ b/automation.mdwn @@ -0,0 +1,30 @@ +Automation and checklists +========================= + +Hackers know how to program, and so can fairly easily automate anything +that happens on a computer. This can be a great time saver. It can also +be a great time waste. If something takes a lot of time and effort to +automate, but doesn't actually take much time to do by hand, then it's +probably not worth it. However, in many cases spending an evening to +write some scripts to automate something is worthwhile not just to +save time, but to not ever have to do it again. For example, instead +of filling out timesheets by hand at work, writing a script that does +them automatically based on the work laptop's suspend/resume logs, +plus git commit timestamps, may not actually save much effort, but +not having to deal with the bureaucracy can save you from a fate +worse than ennui. + +Some things are possible to automate even without being able to +program. For example, paying bills via direct debit, or putting +money into a savings account by a standing order, can both make +dealing with money much easier. + +For things that can't be automated (or which aren't worth the +development effort for the AI), but you do repeatedly, it can be +worth writing a checklist. Especially things you do less than once +a week, or which you absolutely have to get right every time, a +checklist can help a lot. The mere process of writing the checklist +forces you to consider and review the process. When you're actually +doing the task, especially if it is urgent or stressful, it can be +nice to not have to think about each step every time you do the task. + @@ -70,16 +70,8 @@ Outline * [[Journalling and other ways of keeping track of things that have happened|journalling]] * [[The daily routine|daily-routine]] -* The weekly review - - what to review: a proposed checklist - - how to review each aspect of the system - - pruning the current projects list (move to someday, or just drop) - - criteria for deciding not to do a project - - what to do if you find yourself skipping the weekly reviews -* Automation and checklists - - automate what you can, because that's less work for you in the long run - - checklist everything else you do repeatedly, so that you don't forget - any steps +* [[The weekly review|review]] +* [[Automation and checklists|automation]] * Getting started - big start: make one large inbox with everything, process than, and thus kickstart a working system covering your entire life |