Wikipedia defines a Heuristic like this: 
  • Heuristic (/hjʉˈrɪstɨk/; Greek: "Εὑρίσκω", "find" or "discover") refers to experience-based techniques for problem solving, learning, and discovery that gives a solution which is not guaranteed to be optimal. Where the exhaustive search is impractical, heuristic methods are used to speed up the process of finding a satisfactory solution via mental shortcuts to ease the cognitive load of making a decision. Examples of this method include using a rule of thumb, an educated guess, an intuitive judgment, stereotyping, or common sense.
  • In more precise terms, heuristics are strategies using readily accessible, though loosely applicable, information to control problem solving in human beings and machines.[1]


Me, I like to keep things a little more simple.  My definition - A personal rule that guides me.  For example... I have adopted the following heuristic: "I work from a list, with out a list I do not work"... period. What does that mean... When sitting down to work if I don't have a list, a prioritized list.  I don't/can't work.  I stop and make a list... if I start to work without a list aimlessly dealing with every thing that flies at me with the attention span of a gold fish(look a buried treasure!... look a buried treasure!...look a buried treasure!...etc.) I catch myself and knowing that I have broken my own rule.  I stop and make a prioritized list.
Think of some simple rules that will change how you approach your day. You will be surprised how quickly you will adapt.  


Looking forward,

Peter




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