On Yak Shaving Back to Journal →

Monday, July 22, 2024

The phrase comes up quite often in software engineering, but I didn’t know it was inspired by an episode of The Ren & Stimpy Show in the 1990s.1Attributed to Carlin J. Vieri, a Ph.D. student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology at the time.

Yak shaving reflects the subtle complexity of everyday tasks. It begins with a simple goal, but each step reveals new dependencies—small actions that seem essential to the greater objective. In the pursuit of efficiency, we find ourselves tangled in unrelated tasks, losing sight of our original aim.

I’ve been there. Most likely will be there in the future.

One thing I’ve accepted is that it’s a quiet reminder that productivity is not just about doing more but understanding when to stop and refocus, resisting the allure of infinite preparation.