The Lazy Susan Productivity Method
Rotate between multiple projects to maximize creative output and avoid burnout
David Eagleman describes his productivity system as a Lazy Susan - a rotating platform of multiple projects that he spins between based on where his energy and interest naturally flow at any given moment. Instead of forcing himself to grind through a single project when he hits a wall, he rotates to another project where fresh perspective and energy are available. This approach leverages the neuroscience of how the brain processes information: when you step away from a problem, your unconscious mind continues working on it. By the time you rotate back, you often have new insights or renewed energy. The method works because creative work does not respond well to brute force. Unlike physical labor where more hours equals more output, creative and intellectual work has diminishing returns that can be reset by strategic rotation between projects.
- Creative energy is not unlimited - rotation prevents depletion
- The unconscious mind continues processing problems you step away from
- Varied stimulation produces better creative output than grinding on one thing
- Multiple active projects create a portfolio of progress rather than single-point dependency
- Build Your Project Lazy SusanMaintain three to five active projects at various stages of completion. These should be different enough in nature that working on one provides a mental break from the others. A writing project, a research project, a creative project, and an administrative project create natural variety that prevents any single type of mental fatigue from accumulating across your entire workday.Pro tipThe ideal mix includes projects at different stages - some in early creative exploration, some in focused execution, some in polishingWarningMore than five active projects risks fragmentation rather than productive rotation
- Follow Your Energy, Not Your CalendarInstead of scheduling rigid blocks for each project, tune into your current energy state and rotate to the project that matches it. When you feel creatively energized, work on creative projects. When you feel analytical, do research. When your energy is low, handle administrative tasks. This alignment of energy to task type dramatically increases output quality.Pro tipTrack your energy patterns for a week to discover your natural rhythms before designing your rotation
- Trust the Unconscious ProcessingWhen you hit a wall on one project, do not push through with diminishing returns. Rotate to another project and trust that your unconscious mind will continue processing the stuck project in the background. Neuroscience confirms that insight and creative breakthroughs often occur during periods of incubation when conscious attention is directed elsewhere.Pro tipKeep a capture tool handy because breakthrough ideas for Project A often arrive while working on Project BWarningThis is not permission to abandon difficult projects - it is a strategy for maintaining progress across multiple fronts
David Eagleman simultaneously maintains careers as a Stanford neuroscientist, bestselling author, TV presenter, startup CEO, and director of a production company. Rather than dedicating blocks of his career to each role, he rotates between them daily and weekly based on his energy and the stage of each project, maintaining high output across all domains simultaneously.
Eagleman developed this approach from observing his own creative patterns across his multiple careers as a neuroscientist, author, TV presenter, and startup founder. He noticed that forcing himself to work on a single project when his energy flagged produced poor results, while switching to another project he was excited about maintained high productivity across the entire day. The approach mirrored what he knew about neuroscience: the brain benefits from varied stimulation and unconscious processing time.