Merlin Mann, a productivity expert, has skewered the desire to over-organize a list of tasks in a fast-moving world. Imagine you’re making sandwiches in a deli, says Mann. The first sandwich order comes in and you start spreading the mayonnaise on a slice of rye bread. But wait—the lunchtime rush is coming. Wouldn’t it be a good idea to stop and check whether any more sandwich orders have arrived? Gosh, yes: two more sandwich orders. Now, how best to organize them? In order of arrival, perhaps. Or maybe it’s best to segregate the vegetarian orders from those involving meat? Another possibility
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