Working As A Simple Brain

Simple brain sits at desk. Today brain will work.

Very good.

What work?

“Project.”

Ah.

Very useful word.

Simple brain look at project. Project look back.

Project is large fog. Inside fog maybe code.

Maybe letters. Maybe scrolls.

Maybe summons. Maybe dragon.

Simple brain cannot see. Simple brain decide to check in fridge.

Nothing new inside fridge.

Brain check again twelve minutes later.

Still a fridge. Still chilly.

Problem maybe not lazy brain.

Problem maybe brain not see first rock.

Show brain one thing

“Work on website” is not thing.

It is many things wearing one coat.

Maybe fix menu. Maybe change button.

Maybe ask why API return sadness.

Maybe deploy.

Maybe stare at CSS until CSS become afraid.

Simple brain does better when next thing has shape.

Not:

“Write article.”

Try:

“Write bad first paragraph.”

Not:

“Fix login.”

Try:

“Find where login request fails.”

Not:

“Prepare presentation.”

Try:

“Write three things people must remember.”

One visible step.

That enough.

Brain does not need map of entire kingdom before moving one foot.

Make good path easy

Simple brain often think discipline means fighting brain all day.

No.

Fighting brain sounds tiring.

Better make useful thing easy to reach.

Need write? Keep file nearby.

Need continue code tomorrow?

Leave comment where brain should start.

Need remember question?

Write question down before closing laptop.

Past brain can help future brain.

This is good teamwork.

Past brain knows where forest path is.

Tomorrow brain wakes up with no idea.

Tomorrow brain sees note:

Next: check why bear cannot use login form.

Excellent.

No ancient archaeology required.

Brain can begin.

Make bad path little harder

Many tool makers hate friction.

Friction mean extra click.

Extra click bad.

Fast good.

Sometimes yes.

If simple brain know what it wants, fast is good.

But sometimes finger move before brain finish voting.

Finger open social box.

Finger open news box.

Finger somehow open same website again even though nothing changed since four minutes ago.

Interesting finger.

Little friction can help.

Turn off red dot.

Close mail when mail time done.

Move noisy box away.

Keep out of thing simple brain open without thinking.

Nothing forbidden.

Simple brain can still go there.

Path just have one extra stone.

Stone gives brain one moment to ask:

“Me actually want this?”

Sometimes answer yes.

Good. Go.

Sometimes brain realize finger was driving.

Good. Return.

Do not build giant work ritual

Simple brain discovers productivity.

Danger.

New notebook. New app.

Seven labels. Five colors.

Morning ritual. Evening ritual.

Special rule for Tuesday.

Special rule if moon is full.

Soon simple brain spend more time maintaining ritual than doing work.

Ritual has become new project.

Project has become fog.

Simple brain now needs productivity rule for productivity ritual.

Stop.

Good work ritual can be boring.

Boring good.

It should answer only a few things:

What am I doing? What is next?

What can wait?

That may be enough.

If ritual needs priest, manual, and quarterly migration plan,

Please smash few pieces off.

Starting should be small

Sometimes simple brain knows exactly what to do.

Still no start.

Brain says:

Need coffee first. Need good song.

Need clean desk. Need two free hours.

Need weather good.

Need Moon not doing whatever Moon apparently does.

Job become ceremony.

Ceremony fragile.

Make start smaller.

Open scroll.

Read last paragraph.

Write one ugly sentence.

One tiny action tells brain:

“We are here now.”

Maybe more.

Maybe not.

One ugly sentence still more useful than no perfect sentences.

Simple brain does not need heroic start.

Simple brain needs door.

Small door fine.

Open and walk through.