Task switching is hard because we do not control what is on our mind. Despite our efforts, the original task continues to occupy our mental bandwidth. Although we can control where our time goes, we cannot fully control how our bandwidth is allocated.

We ought to arrange calendars as we arrange art on our walls and ask: how does this task fit next to the surrounding ones?

The only thing that we cannot control is our supporters.

Serial tasking is hard because switching tasks is hard, even when the tasks are easy and similar. In some experiments, bilingual speakers are asked to read out numbers, first in one language and then midway in another language. They often stumble at the switch, taking many tries before they hit their stride again.

We cannot kill or capture our way out of an industrial-strength insurgency.

It is easy to dodge our responsibilities, but we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities.