Please help stop my brain behaving like a plastic toy!

academic wrote:However, if I factor-in active stress relieving into the project PDCA (such as exercising) then I have allocated time to do something that will wind-down the negative emotion, and hopefully allow the PDCA to continue where it left off without its blocker.

Let me know if that is bogus as I might be going in circles. Lets see..

I don’t think it is bogus. I just don’t necessarily understand the difference between;

-1- IF unexpected delay arises, THEN drink hot tea and,
-2- IF unexpected delay arises, THEN go exercise.

Either reaction in the PDCA cycle to an unexpected delay becomes a preplanned, measured response, that then requires additional time when considering how long a project takes for you to complete.

A good measure is from unexpected delay to getting back on track, how long does it take you? From hot tea or exercise, to the time you sit back down and fill in the Apple requirements, how long did it take? Did it take hours, days, a week? Have you still not picked the project back up?

Your answer should say quite a bit about how unexpected delays generally impact your PDCA cycle.

The worst example is over one year! Most projects pause until the next weekend, which highlights the risk, but still renders it immeasurable.

I picked exercise because it is time-bound and will wear me down in under one hour, whereas time taken for tea is non-deterministic (esp. unlimited top-ups and maybe some cake).