Getting started is hard. For me anyway, how about you? For me there's
always the temptation to do lots of little jobs when I first get in, and in particular to check my morning email (just about irresistable) rather than to seriously start on research stuff.
The last couple of weeks I've been trying something that seems to work. I
start every day in the office doing a half hour to one hour of (10+2)*5, as described in a previous blog entry. But basically using a website with a java stopwatch on it, I start my day with 10 minutes of work, followed by 2 minutes
of goofing off (enough time to check email and write one quick reply),
followed by 10 more minutes work, then 2 minutes play, and so on. Usually
the cycle breaks down into straight work before I have to do another hour
of it, which is what is supposed to happen. And I think it helps my morale
for the day if I get some solid work in first thing.
For another perspective on getting started: I once heard an author on a
science fiction convention panel say that when she wanted to start a
writing session, she sat down at her computer and put on the Mortal Kombat
soundtrack. She said she doesn't even hear it any more, but it's a signal
to her brain that it's time to work. Have been trying that a bit with the
Go Soundtrack, which is smooth and pleasant (Len, Esthero, Fatboy Slim).
So far what it's mostly good for is blocking out office sounds without
being distracting (since it's so familiar), but I don't know if it's
actually helping me get busy.
What do you do to get started?
