Task Stacking: A Way to Make the Most of Limited Time

Reading time: ~2 minutes

Summary

• Problem: I have limited time and energy in the evenings.
• Approach: I stack tasks with built-in pauses or low attention demands into the same time slot.
• Outcome: More gets done without sleeping less.

I multitask by stacking things that fit together. Usually that means tasks with built-in pauses, or tasks that don’t need full attention the whole time.

That way, multiple things occupy the same time slot without meaningfully reducing effectiveness. Attention goes to the task that needs it.

The most extreme version I’ve done looked like this:

• Working out (home mini gym setup)
  
• Eating during the 2-minute rest between sets
  
• Watching a lecture while chewing
  
• Switching to a YouTube video during the next set
  
• All while waiting for the laundry to finish

So I’m working out, eating, catching up on studying, getting my entertainment fix, and getting laundry done at the same time.

I only need to pay attention to my workout during the 2 minutes on. A YouTube entertainment video doesn’t require attention.

Eating doesn’t require attention either. I use the 2 minutes off to focus on the lecture instead.

Laundry runs in the background.

I don’t recommend eating mid-workout unless you’re genuinely short on time. This was during late-night study periods when both time and energy were limited.

I have around 3 hours between getting home from work and needing to sleep. How else do you get all of this done in the few hours you have at home? (I could sleep less. Not ideal.)

Related:

• The regular reminder to myself to respect my sleep time and sleep earlier
• Single-task, Don't Multitask (this post refers to not stacking tasks that don't have built-in pauses and need your continuous full attention)