Do I Have a Context Problem? - DBR 060
Episode 60 of the Do Busy Right - The Task and Attention Management Podcast podcast, hosted by Larry Tribble, Ph.D., titled "Do I Have a Context Problem? - DBR 060" was published on December 13, 2024 and runs 48 minutes.
December 13, 2024 ·48m · Do Busy Right - The Task and Attention Management Podcast
0:00 / 0:00
Episode Description
Anytime you talk about task management, you talk about actually doing things. It's one thing to know you have something to do. It's another thing to prioritize well and what I have to say will have something to do with prioritization. But actually doing things has a lot to do with the third thing which is, given a prioritized task, will you do it?
The challenge here: What do we know about context, and how can we organize our thoughts around tasks, having context and us entering into that context before we attempt to task.
So we'll explore context today, and I think it's an important concept to understand as we try to orient our lives towards actually completing tasks and delivering results. These are the foundations of creating value and getting paid.
In the modern workplace, a lot of us have gotten the idea that we can work from anywhere. And there are a couple problems with that. The one we'll deal with today is: not all work environments are created equal.
What is context?
- One category of differences in work environments is what we'll call 'context'.
- Context examples grocery store, phone availability, etc.
- When we're prioritizing our tasks, I think we might overlook the notion of context.
- However, context is important to our productivity
- Context is malleable to some degree
- One: There is some risk in selecting context – it can change on us
- Two: What's the cost of that malleability?
- There are two associated notions:
- One: Knowing the context, being aware of the required context.
- Two: Developing/creating that context.
- If we're in the wrong context, we'll have subpar results from our work.
- "Battlefield surgery", but that shouldn't be the norm
Five components
- Physical or 'hard' environment
- Energy level - the mental energy we bring based on circadian or other rhythmic
- Mental - our 'stick brain' - can we batch tasks?
- Quasi-physical - are your tools and information available?
- Social - are the right people around)?
What happens if we're in the wrong context?
- Spectrum of effects that we could see from the wrong context ("a little bit harder" through "the power's out")
- Procrastination at the lower levels?
Operationalizing context - Work blocks
- Scheduling work blocks with context in mind
- Sequencing work blocks with context in mind
- Some rules/parameters for batching
- Postponing tasks is another good time to to think about context
Bring context into your planning arsenal
A key point about Attention Compass: context is baked in to the Daily review workflow – we develop habits around dealing with context well.
Hit me up and tell me what's on your mind: [email protected] or LinkedIn (mention the pod when you connect, please).
Similar Episodes
Are You Ignoring These Early Signs of Burnout?
Apr 12, 2026 ·14m
A New Approach to Productivity: The PEACE Framework with Anne Rajoo
Apr 5, 2026 ·19m
Redefining Work Ethic for Real Results
Mar 29, 2026 ·10m
Stuck in a Rut? How the Science of Neuroplasticity can Help!
Mar 22, 2026 ·7m
How Boundaries Help You Be Your Best
Mar 8, 2026 ·12m
Similar Podcasts
THE INTENTIONAL EDIT PODCAST - Simplify Life - Organization, Decluttering, Home Routines, Family Systems
Lauren White - Coach for Busy Moms, Home Organization & Decluttering Expert, Systems Strategist
Are you tired of doing everything around the house and not having any time to relax or enjoy the little things? Are you looking for an easier way to keep track of activities, carpool schedules and school calendars? Do you wish your house would stay organized, where you didn’t have to clean up rooms full of toys, clutter, and laundry every night? You desire simple systems that make your days easier! If you’re dreaming of how to simplify and not feel overwhelmed with basic household tasks and mom duties all the time, you are in the right place! I’m Lauren from Intentional Edit and I’m happy to have you here! I know all about the struggles of trying to do it all and feel like there isn’t time left over for yourself or anything that you really want to be doing! Working hard and running out of energy midday is exhausting! It doesn’t have to be that way and busy moms really can turn it all around. You deserve to stop the feelings of being overwhelmed, burned out and exhausted by im
Fit Med Podcast with Nick Matti
Nick Matti
Welcome to the Fit Med Podcast! If you are a Medical Professional and want to take your own health to the next level, you're in the right place. We have helped over 500 Medical Pros just like you over the last 3 years transform their bodies and minds. Here's what you'll learn how to do in this series: ✅ How to stoke your METABOLISM to make fat loss easy✅ Workouts that fit into your busy life.✅ Sustainable nutrition to keep the results you get.✅ Mindset management so you can stay CONSISTENT.✅ Systems to bust through PLATEAUS.Join our Free Group: https://tinyurl.com/F1M-group
The 7AM Bible with Paul Chapman
Paul Chapman
Start the day right with food for the soul. Join 7AM each Monday to Friday for a short meditation from God’s Word. The 7AM Bible with Paul Chapman.Paul believes we can only be truly effective in our life pursuits when we start our day with food for the soul. Sometimes we get so busy with the cares of this life, that our daily meditation turns into a hurried prayer with no real thought for our soul's need. The 7AM Bible podcast was started to meet this need.Don't forget to share this podcast with your friends and on social media. You are the reason why we do The 7AM Bible podcast!
How did you write that song?
Paul Marsh
Not only rock stars write songs. Lots of people with busy lives do it. In this podcast I'll have discussions with people who write songs about how they do it, why they do it and the things songwriting has done for them. In each episode we'll discuss and play an original song by the featured songwriter and get right down into how that song came to be. Relevant resources and links to things we've discussed will be included in the episode notes. If you write songs, or would like to write songs but haven't started yet, this podcast could be for you.Look forward to connecting with you, Paul.