Reducing task overload and bad multitasking by means of a simple feature
 

Hi,

The app is really fantastic! I am lucky to have been part of the pre-release 500 and I'm extremely satisfied with the product.

However, I've experienced some undesired effects of using OF.

OF makes it so easy to create [B]so many[/B] projects and tasks that the sheer number of them available for you to complete is daunting. This can (and in my case, has) lead to:[LIST][*]increased stress[*]loss of focus[*]bad multitasking (constant switching among tasks/projects)[*]reduced productivity[/LIST]
These negative effects are [I]not[/I] OF's fault. They result directly from having too many open task/projects, generated by my mind --- and aided by the ease of OF's use. OF has just helped me expose the problem and I think it's not only my problem.

Bad multitasking by having too many open tasks/projects is proven to diminish productivity; there's ample research and practice to prove that. It's also an issue that the canonical exposition of GTD does not address explicitly.

Fortunately, the solution is very simple: [LIST=1][*]Freeze (put on hold) a significant number of open projects (at least 20% of total workload)[*]Use the increased productivity to speed up completion of open projects
[*Once some open projects have been completed, defrost previously frozen projects to maintain a good ratio of project completion[/LIST]
(These are actually the first steps in implementing Goldratt's [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_chain"]Critical Chain project management[/URL].)

Therefore, the following features might be very useful: [LIST][*]a counter of the number of active projects and tasks[*]ability to set a preferred max number of active projects/tasks[*]a "warning light" that would "flash" when the number of active projects/tasks approaches/crosses the max allowed number of open items[/LIST]
That would prompt the user to reconsider what they're committing themselves to undertake, freeze some of the projects/task, all this leading to: [LIST][*]increased rate of task/project completion[*]feeling of being in control[*]increased level of comfort and well-being[/LIST]
There' already a counter of Inbox items, so I guess it shouldn't be too difficult to implement this request, if you agree with my logic.

Months ago there was some clamoring on these forums for a "status bar" showing counts of visible and total actions and projects. If that ever got implemented, it might be a good place to put the kind of feedback you're talking about. (But I don't know if it ever will...)

How easy would it be to script such a set of features by a person with no experience in programming?

Is there a place to ask for such a script to be created?

Marek

yes .. the " extras " forum for omni focus .

Thanks for the hint, ext555

I posted the request on [url]http://forums.omnigroup.com/showthread.php?t=5654[/url]

Marek

A simple first step is to distinguish between "frozen" or "queued" projects (not yet released) and "active" projects. My limiting the number of active projects, you reduce bad multi-tasking, and increase project "velocity". By allowing the creation of "queued" projects, you maintain the option to plan future projects as details occur to you.