Great article — you are echoing many of the ideas we expand on at www.ScheduleU.org. There is one perspective I’d add: not everyone needs to focus on time. Our research shows that it’s the only technique for someone who has high task volumes to use.

However, others who manage at lower task volumes can use task lists effectively, or even memory.

In other words, it’s about picking the right tool for the right “lifestyle” which equates to the number of time demands each person tends to create.

We paint the picture of a simple hand trowel. It works for low volumes of earth. However, when you increase the amount of earth that must be moved, it no longer suffices. You must choose between a shovel, or a wheelbarrow or even a front-end loader.

This distinction empowers people who hit the limit of their current tool/habits without knowing that its a natural development, rather than a function of their personality or level of discipline.