Time Task Tax Method

29 May 2024

I'm trying a new time management technique this week. Let's call it the 'time task tax method' (TTT). The principle is similar to how goods are taxed, but with time and effort. Often when we execute a task, like cooking or writing code, we fail to 'clean up' after ourselves. The universe dictates that the arrow of entropy moves from low to high, from order to disorder. If we cook, the kitchen gets dirty. If we write code, the codebase gets messier.

This principle dictates that every time a task is carried out, time must be allocated to cleaning up, or 'paying tax'. The tax is used to move the arrow of entropy in the other direction. To keep the kitchen clean, to refine your strategy.

The principle dictates that 'paying tax' is time-boxed and factored into the task at hand. Improving the code strategy is factored into a pomodoro after a series of 7 pomodoros executing the task.

If we fail to do this, like crumbling infrastructure, later we must pay for an expensive rebuild. We have to create a task to clean the kitchen, we have to create a task to refactor the codebase.

Of course, there are many counter examples where this does not work. My experiment is to see how this can be applied to even those most minute tasks. My theory is that successful individuals and organisations already execute type of this principle. Without it being a clearly stated principle, it is part of their operational principles, it is part of their attitude.