What are good tasks for "not enough time to start on something big" moments?

time-management

Solution

Here are a few ideas.

- Check StackOverflow.

- Check RSS feeds.

- Handle and delete three email messages.

- Write a couple unit tests.

- Put a few comments in your code.

- Delete old files and defrag your hard disk.

- Take a look at your calendar and to do list.

- Write someone an email thanking them for something.

- Build a project you haven't touched in a while to make sure you still can.

- Browse through the documentation for some software you use frequently.

Problem

It happens fairly frequently that I'll finish up a big project or get done with a meeting around 30-45 minutes before my time to go home. There are usually things that need to be done, but it usually isn't worth it to start on those projects with only 30-45 minutes to go. What are some good things to spend that time doing?

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