How to manage your time more effectively (according to machines) - Brian Christian

In 1997, NASA's Pathfinder spacecraft successfully landed on Mars and began sending remarkable images back to Earth. However, after a few days, transmissions ceased due to an issue with its scheduler—a critical component in operating systems that manages task prioritization for the CPU. The bug caused the system to become preoccupied with less important tasks while neglecting essential operations.

Understanding the computer science behind scheduling reveals parallels to human time management struggles. Prioritizing tasks, like scanning an inbox for important messages before addressing them, consumes valuable time that could be spent on execution. This approach exemplifies a quadratic-time algorithm where doubling the workload exponentially increases processing effort and duration.

In 2003, Linux programmers faced inefficiency as the system spent excessive time ranking tasks by importance rather than executing them. They resolved this by introducing priority "buckets," simplifying task prioritization and allowing more focus on progress over precision. This approach highlights that insisting on perfect order can hinder productivity; for instance, tackling an overflowing inbox in strict priority could exponentially increase effort compared to simpler methods like chronological or random processing.

Interruptions, akin to computer context switches, involve a tradeoff between productivity and responsiveness. Minimizing interruptions enhances focus for serious tasks but reduces immediate reactivity. A strategic approach is grouping interruptions—checking notifications or emails at set intervals rather than constantly reacting—to balance this tension effectively. This concept mirrors interrupt coalescing in computers, which improved laptop battery life by deferring actions until necessary moments. Adopting such methods can help individuals reclaim attention and achieve much-needed rest.