4.9 KiB
Title: Time Management for System Administrators: Stop Working Late and Start Working Smart
Thomas A. Limoncelli
Started Reading: 2022-07-06
Finished Reading: 2022-10-18
I didn't even count this book as "currently reading" and before I knew it, I was done reading it. Admittedly, I started reading it several times (and the author actually recommends doing so), but never got very far.
Truthfully, I think it was because the meat of the book was so inspirational, I stopped reading to apply some of the methods and then never came back to the book!
The first 3/4 of the book are where the real theory lies. (The meat) It's where I was inspired to keep all my lists and notes in a single system and learned that any system is pointless unless you review it periodically.
The last 1/4 of the book talks about documentation and automation in ways that I found were eerily familiar. I was already doing many of the tips he suggests in much the same way. Unfortunately, since this book was written in the mid-2000s, some of the technical advice is pretty dated. I skipped most of the command-line examples in favor of my own recipies, but appreciated the inclusion of these time-savers.
Notes
most sysadmins are tenacious problem solvers. They will attach themselves to a problem like a bulldog and not let go until the problem relents. Other tasks, such as appointments and life support (like food or sleep), become secondary as they persevere, and work on the problem either in person or in their head far beyond the usual time limits. For people who habitually say, "Just one sec, I almost have this fixed," time management can be a challenge.
Important themes
- Keep all your time-management stuff in one place.
- Use your brain for what you are working on right now, and use external storage for everything else.
- Develop routines for things that happen periodically.
- Pre-compute decisions by developing habits and mantras.
- Maintain focus during project time.
- Improve your social life by applying these tools outside of work, too.
We lack quality mentoring. SAs need to learn the fundamentals of to do list management, calendar management, and life-goal management just like anyone else. However, our normal career path usually doesn't lend itself to learn these things. Our mentors are technical peers, often on email lists, and often in different parts of the world. There are fewer opportunities to learn by watching, as a supervisor often learns from a director.
Agreed. I've continually found myself in a position of "nobody understands what I do"
One "database" for time management information (use one organizer).
This is much more difficult than originally thought. Especially for a Linux admin in a Windows world. Lots of Open-Source, web-based solutions.
Don't take it personally, but your brain isn't as good at recalling things as a piece of paper or a computer. Don't use your brain to track tasks or appointments. Use your organizer, a request-tracking database, a Wiki, or anything other than your brain.
Take a break. Breathe. Nobody's last words were ever "I wish I had spent more time at the office." Relax—it's only 1s and 0s.
How many times have you realized the solution to a problem while explaining it to someone else? Life is full of those moments when you tell someone, "So there's this problem, see? If I...." Suddenly you realize the answer, and there is no need to continue talking. It happens all the time.
Rubber Duck Programming
Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy
Available in Libby
It is not what happens to us that causes stress, it is how we react to what happens to us.
The Cycle is, as Goldilocks would say, "just right." It utilizes a device (either PDA or PAA) that you can carry everywhere with the bonus benefit of keeping everything in one place. The benefit of keeping everything in one place.
The big secret is to write down your goals. When they are in your head, they aren't as fleshed out as you think they are. They are nebulous. They can't be evaluated, shared with others, or worked on. The process of writing them down forces you to make them concrete. It's also a lot easier to prioritize a list that is written down.
I am in this picture, and I don't like it.
don't rely on your brain. An organizer is the right tool for recording dates; your brain isn't.
The Cycle is the evolution of a system that has worked for me for over 10 years. It's relatively lightweight, yet it includes all the pieces a system administrator needs.
Don't delete this bookmark. This is where the good stuff starts
I used to think that the brain was the most wonderful organ in my body. Then I remembered who was telling me this. --Emo Philips
Tags: booknotes