The first time I heard the term “task snacking” was in the book The Staff Engineer’s Path. It instantly resonated with me because I realized I had been doing it for years without knowing what to call it. I often found myself tackling small, easy tasks instead of facing the bigger, more challenging work that truly mattered.
Like snacking on food, task snacking is when you focus on small, low-effort tasks instead of tackling bigger, more important work. Sometimes, this happens because you’re procrastinating on a difficult task that requires more thought and effort but would have a bigger impact.
For example, when you have a big task that requires deep thinking — maybe writing a rollout strategy or a detailed document — it can feel overwhelming. Instead of facing it, you might pick up a smaller task that takes less energy. You still feel productive because you’re getting things done, but at the end of the day, the big task is left unfinished.
I struggled (and sometimes still do) with task snacking. I like to stay active, and I don’t enjoy waiting or feeling like I’m not making progress. So, I often find myself upgrading dependencies in my services or making small improvements that aren’t urgent. My previous manager once told me that I should focus only on tasks that are both important and urgent. The tasks I was snacking on were important in some way, but they weren’t urgent. I felt good about keeping things up to date, but at the same time, I was delaying the work that really mattered.
I’m not against task snacking (I do it sometimes). It can have benefits. When you’re stuck on a tough problem, stepping away to do a smaller task can help clear your mind. When you come back, you might have a fresh perspective and find a solution more easily. The danger is when you never return to the big task and just keep snacking instead.
Sometimes, though, what you really need isn’t more work — it’s rest. As the book says, “When you’re tired, snacking can feel easier than resting. Notice when you’re doing busywork because you’re tired, and find a way to rest instead.”
Working on a Platform Team, I often get pulled into interesting problems from other teams. Since I enjoy solving challenges, I sometimes snack on helping others instead of focusing on my own priorities. While this can lead to great insights and collaboration, it also means my main tasks get pushed aside.
Just like snacking on junk food can ruin your appetite for a real meal, task snacking can take away time and energy from your most important work. Have you noticed yourself snacking on tasks instead of tackling bigger challenges? What steps can you take to stay focused on what truly matters? The key is being aware of it and making sure it doesn’t take over.
Cheers.