Developing a System for Managing Multiple Projects

🧵 Bioinformaticians: Drowning in multiple projects? Here's why context switching is killing your productivity—and how to fix it. 1/ Too many projects = too little progress. When your attention is scattered, your output drops. Context switching is the silent killer. 2/ Each project has its own biology: 🧬 Different TFs 🧪 Different cell lines ⚙️ Different pipelines Switching eats mental energy. 3/ Example: Jumping from CUT&RUN on H3K27me3 in mESCs to ChIP-seq on c-Myc in HeLa = full brain reboot. 4/ You spend time recalling: • QC parameters • Genome version • Where peaks are saved • Which scripts and tools you used 5/ And if the project isn't organized, you’ll waste even more time digging through old folders, scratch files, or rerunning commands. 6/ Solution 1: Ruthless prioritization Pick ONE project each day. Focus. Finish. Ship it. Half-done science doesn’t help anyone. Multitasking is a trap. 7/ Solution 2: Use consistent folder structures Example: project_name/ ├── raw_data/ ├── fastqc/ ├── trimmed/ ├── alignment/ ├── results/ ├── scripts/ 8/ Solution 3: Add a README to each project Include: • Data source • Goals • Key results • Analysis steps • TODOs This saves hours when switching context or collaborating. document as much as possible. it may seem to be a waste of time, but it saves you time long term 9/ Solution 4: Keep a running log Markdown or plain text. Example: ## 2025-04-10 - Trimmed reads with fastp - Aligned with bowtie2 (hg38) - Called peaks with macs2 10/ Key Takeaways: • Switching projects costs time and focus • Finish one before hopping to another • Structure + notes = less rework 11/ ✅ Action items: • Choose 1 project to focus on this week • Create folder structure & README • Start a daily or weekly log 12/ Deep work leads to deep insights. Prioritize. Organize. Write it down. Make future-you thank today-you. I hope you've found this post helpful. Follow me for more. Subscribe to my FREE newsletter https://lnkd.in/erw83Svn

I've tested over 100 productivity systems in 20+ years of building companies. Here's the one that actually works (and why most founders get it wrong): Most think success requires grinding 24/7. After selling multiple companies, I've learned the opposite is true. Systems beat hustle. Every. Single. Time. I do ten 4-hour work weeks every single week. Instead of one endless 16-hour grind, I work in concentrated 4-hour blocks with complete mental resets between each. Here's my exact system: My "Control Room" approach: • Every task gets time-boxed in Asana • Projects have dedicated boards • Meetings only Tuesday-Thursday • Zero context switching allowed • Daily review at 6 AM sharp The breakthrough came when I realized: Energy management trumps time management. I map my day to natural energy peaks: • 5-9 AM: Deep strategic work • 9-1 PM: Team alignment • 1-5 PM: Execution mode • 5-8 PM: Family time Non-negotiable boundaries: • Phone stays in another room during deep work • Mondays are meeting-free for focused work • No major decisions when mentally drained • No "just this once" exceptions The system requires ruthless prioritization. I use the "3-1-3" method: • 3 major quarterly objectives per company • 1 key metric that defines success • 3 critical tasks each day that move the needle Everything else is noise. The beauty isn't just productivity - it's freedom. I can run multiple companies while being present for my family. No more choosing between success and life. The secret to extreme productivity isn't working harder than everyone else. It's building systems that multiply your impact. Start small. Pick one element. Test it for a week. Then build from there. Join Founder Mode for free weekly insights on startups, systems, and personal growth: https://lnkd.in/gSjjvzt9

Looking for a more innovative way to stay on top of your projects? Here’s a productivity hack to help you manage your workload and get a clear view of what’s coming next: 👉 Create a Personal Kanban Board with Strategic Columns (and WIP Limits). Here’s how to set it up for maximum oversight: 1. Set Up Columns Like These:   - "Backlog" for upcoming projects and ideas.   - "Prioritized" for tasks you're ready to tackle next.   - "In Progress" to track active projects.   - "Review" for projects needing approval or feedback.   - "Completed" to celebrate wins and capture lessons learned. 2. Add WIP Limits: Keep your workload manageable and focused without overcommitting. 3. Maintain Oversight: Visualizing tasks across these stages helps track projects, identify bottlenecks, and manage incoming requests without feeling overwhelmed. Bonus: Building your Kanban board is a skill in itself. As you refine it, you’ll discover the nuances—from setting the right WIP limits to designing columns that suit your workflow. It’s not just about managing tasks but mastering the process. Make your Kanban board a central tool for oversight, not just task tracking. Your projects—and productivity—will thank you. What's your experience with Kanban boards? Share your thoughts below! Like this post if you're ready to take control of your workflow, and follow me for more productivity tips! 🚀

How I Turn Every Project Into a Productivity Powerhouse Ever feel like your productivity vanishes halfway through a project, no matter how motivated you start? You are not alone. I have been there, too. Managing multiple projects can quickly become overwhelming. Details slip through the cracks, documentation piles up, and suddenly, you are spending more time searching for information than actually moving things forward. What is worse? That sinking feeling when you realize you have solved the same problem three times, or can’t remember why you made a key decision last month. Sound familiar? Here is how I have turned project chaos into a repeatable, productive process without adding complexity or extra meetings: Build Once, Reuse Always: I create a simple project template that covers the essentials: 🔹Project goal 🔹Tools used 🔹Data sources 🔹Challenges & fixes 🔹Key insights 🔹Recommendations Every new project starts with this template, so I never reinvent the wheel. I can tweak the template occasionally, but the above points remain the foundation. To be more precise, I … 🔹Document in real-time: I jot down decisions, challenges, and solutions as they happen, not at the end. This keeps details fresh and saves me from “what was I thinking?” moments later. 🔹Screenshot shortcuts: A quick screenshot is worth a thousand words. I capture key steps, errors, or milestones, so I have a visual log of what happened and when. 🔹Centralize and keep things related to each project in the same space: Everything, including notes, screenshots, and templates, lives in one clearly named folder. No more hunting through endless files or emails. These habits keep me productive, but they also help me deliver better results faster and with less stress. If you want to level up your project game, try them. PS: How do you stay productive? Repost ♻️ so others can learn. ---------------- I am Edwige a Data Analyst who can help you turn your messy data into actionable insights. DM me to get started. ----------------

How I Stay Productive While Managing Multiple Projects as a Program Manager at Amazon Juggling multiple projects isn’t about doing more—it’s about structuring work better. Early in my career, I tried to multitask across projects, only to feel overwhelmed and scattered. Then I saw how a senior leader structured their workload to maximize focus without burnout. That changed my approach. Here’s how I stay productive while managing multiple projects: 1️⃣ Time Blocking for Each Project I dedicate specific blocks of time to each project instead of jumping between them. This practice has cut context-switching fatigue by 50%. 2️⃣ Weekly Prioritization Reviews I reassess priorities every Monday to ensure I’m focusing on what matters most. This has prevented misalignment and last-minute rushes. 3️⃣ Delegate and Automate Where Possible I offload repeatable tasks and use automation for reporting. This approach has freed up time for high-impact work. Managing multiple projects isn’t about working harder—it’s about structuring work smarter. If you feel overwhelmed, try focusing less on doing everything at once and more on focused execution. How do you manage multiple projects effectively? #Productivity #ProjectManagement #Leadership #Amazon