Time and Priority Management
Learning Objective
I can develop strategies for managing my time and priorities effectively.
Key Concepts
NASA's Pathfinder spacecraft experienced a bug in its scheduler, causing it to prioritize tasks incorrectly and halt transmissions.
Prioritizing tasks using a quadratic-time algorithm, such as constantly ranking emails by importance, can lead to inefficiency because the work increases quadratically with the amount of tasks.
To manage interruptions effectively, consider using a technique called interrupt coalescing, which involves grouping interruptions together and addressing them at fixed intervals to minimize context switching and improve focus.
Practice Questions
This lesson includes 3 practice questions to reinforce learning.
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1. According to the video, what is a potential downside of always prioritizing the most important task first?
2. What is 'interrupt coalescing,' and how can it be applied to improve personal time management?
3. The video mentions a 'fundamental tradeoff between productivity and responsiveness.' Explain this tradeoff and provide an example of how you might balance these two factors in your own life.
Educational Video
How to manage your time more effectively (according to machines) - Brian Christian
TED-Ed