I write individual tasks (or steps of larger tasks) on index cards. When a task is done, I stick the index card on a receipt spike.I limit WIP myself to 3 index cards at a time.
I worked with someone who dropped out of a physical chemistry graduate program at one of the most prestigious universities in the U.S.. His epiphany: This has nothing to with people. He is now a physician.
I was surprised by the number of science grad students I knew who were into This Old House. The dream of applying your expertise in a short time frame with tangible results.
I know someone in South Florida, who, while in a funeral cortege, was directed to go through a photo red light by motorcycle policemen managing traffic. Everybody who went through the red light was issued a ticket. The city learned of the error but instead of rectifying the error at the department, required the mourners to submit forms to have their tickets invalidated.
While I was ordering food to go at a rotisserie chicken restaurant, another customer pointed out to me that the window of the rotisserie oven magnifies the size of the chicken.
I organize my work tasks and notes in org-mode by Area>Project>Task in a loose GTD system. For personal tasks, I similarly use Things 3 on my iPhone.
I plan each work day on index cards, one task per card. This helps me to limit work in progress so I’m not all over the place. Using index cards, it’s easy to reprioritize tasks, modify processes, and absorb emergent tasks.