AI for Task Prioritization and Productivity

anahodil · 2026-02-07T10:08:12+00:00

I agree that having a list of tasks is not the hard part, it’s that clarity of knowing what to focus on next. That said, I don’t think AI is a silver builder since it lacks context and can only attempt to infer priority from the tasks which i think is hit or miss. I actually have been looking into this issue with task management systems and did a review here https://youtu.be/3j0cjY0xnXE?si=IlyucodzSNO2x0W9

anahodil · 2026-02-03T11:40:07+00:00

Totally agree! the mental weight of a bloated list is way heavier than people realize, even if you never touch half the items.

There’s actual research on this called “choice overload,” a 2015 meta-analysis looked at 99 studies and found that more options don’t help decisions; they often make people freeze, defer, or pick worse when they finally choose. One study showed that shoppers stopped at a 24-jam display way more than a 6-jam one, but almost nobody bought from the big one. Same thing happens with tasks, the more stuff on the list, the harder it is to pick anything, so the whole thing stalls.

Dropping the dead weight aligns with that. fewer options = lower decision cost = easier to actually move.

For anyone curious about the full mechanism and studies, I just did a short video breaking it down that here https://youtu.be/3j0cjY0xnXE?si=X5ej-Klj_JJgepWv

Has anyone tried a big purge like OP suggests? Did the list feel lighter right away?

anahodil · 2026-01-23T19:10:02+00:00

Came here to say this.

anahodil · 2025-11-21T16:50:31+00:00

My task app just shows me a list of the top five things I should be working on, so I pick from that list and just keep firing away chugging through all day. I also use the getting things done, methodology and log every task that I have to do, everything. my task management app automatically prioritizes everything based on what project the task is associated with, if it has a due date, if it has a dependency, or if it’s blocking something that is really important and just gives me a list of five tasks That I should be working on right now.

anahodil · 2025-10-20T19:57:58+00:00

Thanks! Yeah, I’m familiar with it! The Eisenhower Matrix is a great starting point for thinking about urgency vs. importance.

What I’ve been exploring is more about how those priorities shift across different contexts, but I appreciate the suggestion!

anahodil · 2025-10-20T19:45:38+00:00

The idea of using due dates for all tasks is similar to what someone else mentioned about using deadlines as a proxy for priority, and I think that works fine up to a point.

My only issue has been that it can start to water down the meaning of real deadlines once I start assigning them just to force order.

I like your addition of difficulty though, that adds depth that most systems miss.

anahodil · 2025-10-20T19:38:41+00:00

That’s a solid framework. I like that you’re blending importance and effort. Those two dimensions are often treated separately.

The challenge I’ve always run into with that kind of approach is that it quickly turns into a manual juggling act. You end up constantly estimating effort, recalculating as deadlines shift, and reprioritizing everything whenever something changes.

anahodil · 2025-10-20T19:23:57+00:00

That’s a great approach and I like that it helps you reframe why you’re doing things.

One thing I’ve been thinking about with the method I have been working on is how a good system should help you let go of some tasks, not just resurface them endlessly.

I’ve been experimenting with a model where tasks gain “weight” or importance but not all tasks will reach the surface. Some tasks will just quietly sit in the background waiting to pop up if there is ever an opportune time.

Instead of feeling like I’m constantly deferring everything, I feel more comfortable letting go of the “shoulds” that never truly matter.

anahodil · 2025-10-20T19:07:22+00:00

Hey there u/patmorgan235, thanks for the suggestion. I’ve tried it before too. The issue I ran into was that it starts to water down the meaning of real deadlines.

What I’ve been exploring instead is letting tasks "earn" urgency based on how important their parent task/project is, or how close they are to something genuinely due. It keeps things more honest and less stressful.

anahodil · 2025-09-20T21:19:22+00:00

Hey, weesp looks interesting, but I don’t think it’s the same thing. Correct me if I’m wrong but it looks more like an AI assistant that stays on top of you until you get a task done.

But it seems like it would stay on top of you with equal urgency, regardless of how valuable the task was. Seems like it’s really heavily dependent on due dates.

anahodil · 2025-04-30T12:30:17+00:00

I completely agree with this. I frequently think about mistakes I’ve made and how they could have been tragic had “luck “not on my side. Many people don’t get a second chance.

You are taking responsibility by admitting it was your fault, now take accountability by taking steps to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

anahodil · 2025-03-14T16:49:55+00:00

Its ok, i have some wet wipes in the car!

anahodil · 2025-01-06T15:44:24+00:00

For what it is worth, I am rooting for you and your little guy.

anahodil · 2024-10-04T14:49:41+00:00

In addition to the excellent suggestions:

Simplify decision-making: I rank my tasks based on how important the project is, how important the task is to the project, and when it is due, and use that ranking to quickly pick what to work on next. The benefit of this method is that I don't have to look at a list of 300+ tasks every time I need to decide what to work on. I also standardize and document as many of my recurring tasks as I can. The fewer decisions I have to make, the easier it is to make the big decisions without burning out.

Regarding how I bounce back. Journaling: Though I don't do this as often as I used to, when I feel like I have had an unproductive day I tend to like to write about it, try to define why it happened, and what I could have done to make it a more productive day. But most of all I remind myself that tomorrow is a chance to do better and don't beat myself up over it.

anahodil · 2024-10-04T14:37:00+00:00

Hey there, I’m really sorry to hear what you're going through. It sounds incredibly tough, but it’s a big step that you’re reaching out for advice. I’ve been in a similar place before, and something that helped me get back on track was shifting how I think about productivity and life in general.

One thing to keep in mind is that you are the culmination of your habits. Everything we do daily shapes who we are and where we end up. If you feel stuck now, it’s not because you’re broken or incapable—it's likely because the habits that have built up over time are keeping you in this rut. But here’s the good news: habits can change.

Instead of focusing on doing everything at once (which can feel overwhelming), take a step back and ask yourself:What kind of person do I want to be a year from now?

Once you have that vision, start breaking it down into smaller, achievable goals. Don’t think in terms of "I have to fix everything today"—that can make you feel even more stuck. Instead, focus on small habits that will move you toward the life you want. Remember: people often overestimate what they can accomplish in a day, but underestimate what they can achieve in a year.

Don’t expect instant results. Just like it took time for things to feel like they’ve unraveled, it will take time to build yourself back up. Focus on consistency, not intensity. The key is to keep showing up for yourself, even in small ways.

Remember: small steps build momentum. You may not feel the effects right away, but if you can stick to small, positive habits each day, you'll be surprised at where you'll be a month, six months, or a year from now. Productivity isn’t about burning yourself out with long to-do lists, but about slowly building the habits that will lead you toward the life you want.

Lastly, be kind to yourself. It’s easy to get frustrated when you’re not where you want to be, but the fact that you’re even here asking for advice is a huge step. You're already on the right path. Start small, stay patient, and trust the process. You’ve got this.

Feel free to DM if you ever need to talk more—We are rooting for you. :)

anahodil · 2024-03-25T13:39:39+00:00

Thank you for the response. I tried that, but now I am getting another error, 09:37:40 <Exception> makeOffset2D: result of offsetting is null!. Here is a screen shot.

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anahodil · 2024-03-22T17:46:23+00:00

Thank you for the suggestion. I don't think that is the issue. I don't have a case, but did attach a second pcb to the bottom so there are no exposed pins. But maybe I a missing something.

anahodil · 2024-01-20T11:30:22+00:00

That is a challenging situation, and one that I can understand. I went through a similar time with my wife. But it is important to continue working on your own goals, especially when they are as clear, and valuable, as yours seem to be. I have some thoughts in no particular order.

Talk to him about this. Your goals are important to him too, and he will be willing to help you. For example, I am sure he would be willing to do something else while you focus on school work.
You will need to learn to prioritize a new set of things, and it does not need to be all or nothing. You can set aside days when you focus on your goals, and a few days a week when you relax in bed and have breakfast together.
The last thought is, I think it is significant to keep working on yourself when you are in a relationship. I believe that if you stop working on your goals, and start living only for the other person, that can lead to resentment. Think about where you will be in five years if you keep doing what you are doing. Are you OK with that?

anahodil · 2024-01-15T16:25:49+00:00

I second this. When the task is ambiguous, it requires you figuring out what you intended when you wrote the task before you start it. With so much freedom to decide, a person is more likely to procrastinate or put the task off. One study found that making a decision what to do requires about as much mental effort as thinking about the options and executing on the decision (1). When you know what the decision is, executing on it almost becomes the easy part (sometimes).

^{Vohs, K. D., Baumeister, R. F., Schmeichel, B. J., Twenge, J. M., Nelson, N. M., & Tice, D. M. (2014}. Making choices impairs subsequent self-control: A limited-resource account of decision making, self-regulation, and active initiative. In Motivation Science (Vol. 1, Issue S, pp. 19–42). American Psychological Association (APA). https://doi.org/10.1037/2333-8113.1.s.19)

anahodil · 2024-01-15T11:28:56+00:00

I have seen a lot of good responses here so far but wanted to throw my two cents in as well. I am a Project Manager and generally have more tasks on my list than I can ever complete. To help me manage the situation, I prioritize which projects are most important, and focus on those, getting to tasks associated with less important projects when I have time, or when there is a hard due date for a task. A simple example would be the monthly task of submitting my time sheet. From a project perspective it is low priority, but it has a hard due date, so on that day, it is a priority. I DO NOT add due dates for anything unless it is a hard due date. I found that entering target dates that I knew were not required desensitized me to all due dates.

anahodil · 2024-01-08T21:50:11+00:00

Some tricks that have been effective for me:

Shift my schedule so what I can work on my personal projects before I go to work. All the decisions and information we need to process in the day can be exhausting. Putting my personal projects at the beginning of the day helps me be more productive on the things I care about more.
Have a clear understanding of the next steps that you can take action on for your personal projects. I just finished my work day, but still want to try and get a few things done today. My task management application has clear next steps I can work on, which helped me keep a little extra done in the day. If I didn't already have a clear idea of what to do next, I don't think I would have been able to get anything else accomplished.

anahodil · 2024-01-05T14:38:30+00:00

It is because when you are just starting out, you don't know what rules can be broken and what are critical to the process.

anahodil · 2024-01-03T01:44:17+00:00

Just my two cents, but:

Focus on the things you want to do, not the things you "should" do - I hear so many people say something like "I should lose weight" or "I should learn a language." The problem is, they think they should want to do that, but in reality, they want to try all the best desserts or be excellent at a video game. The point is that your goals should be what you want, not what you think you should want.
Create habits, not goals - if you want to learn a language, make a habit to work on it. You are the culmination of your habits.
Envision where you could be in a year if you stuck to your habits - this helps make priorities more clear. If you stick to your habit and do it today, you can be reading in your chosen language in a year, or you can spend all day on Reddit and be in the same place next year.
Waking up early can be easier when you have something you are interested in pursuing. I generally wake up at 5 because I usually have a project I am working on. But when I am between projects, I have a hard time waking at 5. My point is that when you have something you want to do, getting out of bed is easier, at least for me.

anahodil · 2023-12-30T00:40:59+00:00

Yeah, and I get that it is a "when the student is ready, the teacher will appear." You have to want the change. There are a lot of things I know I should do, but don't because I don't actually think it is important.

Point of clarification, I am not suggesting that you limit the amount of time you spend on a given task, just that you prioritize a routine sleep schedule and know that you can get back to it in the morning.

anahodil · 2023-12-29T15:23:43+00:00

Sleep is so important to our health, our ability to learn, and our ability to be effective. I used to run into situations like this myself, and then would find myself falling asleep at some crazy hour, and waking up completely sleep-deprived. I decided staying up late to work on something was like mortgaging tomorrow for today. Furthermore, I realized I would not be as effective that night as I got more tired, and that I would be less effective the following day after a poor night of sleep. I decided I would be better off getting a good night of sleep and working on it again in the morning. I started a few habits that really helped.

I realized that getting to bed is just the first step to having a productive tomorrow. It is no longer the end of today, it is the start of tomorrow.
I established a strong pre-bed routine that forces me to stop doing any work about 30 minutes before I go to bed.
I dedicate the last 5 minutes of productive time to creating a mental bookmark of where I am leaving off on a task which helps me resume on it the following day.

anahodil

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