Micro Tasks Challenge: April 2015

Welcome! This page collects all “Micro Task Challenge” posts for the Groundhog Day Resolutions Review #3 (Originally scheduled from April 4 to May 5, but aborted after day 13).

A Micro Task is defined as:

  • Any tangible step I can take quickly, in around 15 minutes
  • Is NOT complete in itself
  • When combined with something else, becomes part of a finished piece of work.
  • Is related to one of my 2015 Goals

The purpose of this challenge is to find out whether I can feel satisfaction from doing small bits of work to complete something larger over time, plus whatever else I end up learning.

Micro Task Posts

€Ž"Day 01: Make a Reminder Form

DAY 01: MicroTask Reminder

The idea was to make a simple task sheet that reminds me what my goals are. LINK TO POST


€Ž"Day 02: Schedule Eye Exam

DAY 02: Schedule Eye Exam

Apparently I have been putting this off for three or more years. LINK TO POST


€Ž"Day 03: Add some text to Project 1404

DAY 03: Add Text to Music Project Description Page

I wrote some text on the Project 1404 Music Composition goal page. It’s a start. Trying not to feel embarrassed at how small a task this is. LINK TO POST


€Ž"Day 04: Look in the Paper Box

DAY 04: Look Inside the Paper Sample Box

I looked inside of a box to see what it contained. This proved to be surprisingly productive. LINK TO POST


€Ž"Day 05: Proofread a Post

DAY 05: Proofread a Post

I’ve been working on a post about my new DSLR. I’ve been trying to be better about proofreading, and it ended up being more satisfying than expected. LINK TO POST


€Ž"Day 06: Add text to microtask Form

DAY 06: Add Text to Microtask Form

The first downloadable MicroTask form, with some preliminary theories on why it works for me, and who it might also work for. LINK TO POST


€Ž"Day 07: Making a Chore Sheet

DAY 07: Making a Chore Sheet

Over the weekend, I made a “chores” version of the microtask sheet. LINK TO POST


€Ž"Day 08: Making a Project Sheet

DAY 08: Making a Tricky Project Sheet

This week is project-focused microtasks! I made a “project” version of the microtask sheet. LINK TO POST


€Ž"Day 09: Trying to make progress in the face of distractions

DAY 09: Trying to Make Progress in the Face of Distractions

I tried to use my project sheet yesterday, but only got as far as writing down the “question for the day”; answers are required! But it’s a step. And I also still resent distractions. LINK TO POST


€Ž"Day 10-12: Mission Fail. Abort.

DAYS 10-12: MISSION FAILURE. ABORT APPROACH.

I’ve come to the conclusion that the microtask challenge has already failed. There’s a deeper underlying cause that microtasks are unable to crack: a desire to connect with, but also be free of, people! No solutions at the moment. LINK TO POST


€Ž"Day 13: Furious Creativity with Friends

DAY 13: Furious Creativity with Friends

Postmortem analysis of microtask challenge leads to new insights about the nature of the work I do, and why I do it. LINK TO POST


ABORTED MISSION

As I write in Day 13, the microtask challenge came to an early end when I saw it wasn’t working in the way that I hoped. There is something more fundamental going on, so I pulled the plug on it to rethink.