What are Types of Tasks That Steal Your Energy
I noticed a pattern in my task trackers. These tasks weren't hard or urgent, but they drained energy. Here are some examples.
Closed but lingering. The meeting is over. The layout is approved. The upload is done. Yet, the tracker says "in progress." Our brains don't get the "job well done" signal until the task is closed. Too many of these lead to dissatisfaction. It feels like the week was wasted because the task remains incomplete.
Last mile problems. Only a link, button, and "send" click remain. But these actions never happen. We move to new projects. Or we fear releasing the work. Articles, posts, letters, and landing pages sit in drafts for weeks. Finishing only takes ten minutes.
I once launched an online store with logisticians. I learned about the "last mile" concept from them. It's the delivery from warehouse to door. It's often the most costly and unpredictable part. Projects also have a last mile. We spend 95% of our resources. We only need 5% more effort to see results. The longer we wait, the worse it is for everyone.
Outdated tasks. These tasks linger for weeks or months. When opened, their purpose is unclear. "Test a hypothesis"—which one? "Write a draft"—about what? These are quick ideas jotted down and then forgotten. The context is lost over time. They drain attention instead of inspiring.
I don't try to recover the original thought. I follow the "Essentialism" principle. Important things are always remembered. If it's forgotten, it's not important.
Tasks within tasks. The description seems simple. But doing it reveals five sub-tasks. "Prepare a presentation" seems like one task. It involves many steps. Brainstorming topics, outlining the structure, drafting slides, checking the guide with the designer, finalizing slides, showing the manager, and more.
Leaving them combined makes the task drag on. It causes frustration. We plan for it, but can't mark it complete. This leads to negative feelings.
Stale but vital tasks. These tasks are forgotten or ignored. Unlike point one, these aren't completed but unchecked. Work hasn't even started. They get lost in emails or urgent matters. Or they stay in our heads instead of the tracker.
I found one note: "Add a survey to a client email." It sat for a month, forgotten but important. I asked, "Are we sure we don't do this?" The task was done in half an hour.
One message can solve the issue. Bringing these tasks to light is key. A simple reminder can close a month-old task quickly.
Phantom tasks. These seem quick and easy. We think, "I can do this in 5 minutes." But they become harder than expected.