[m1m1ck]

Make a SHORT list & Give yourself options, (ideally no more than 3): I have to do these 3 things today, which one do I least-not want to do right now? 1) write a Christmas newsletter 2) work on programming project 3) take out the garbage

If there are more than 3 tasks, Use the Eisenhower matrix (important vs urgent?) To plot them and filter out all except the ones which are BOTH most important and most urgent.

I find that I get a lot of dishes and not-important/easy-but-urgent cleaning done when I have a big nasty task pending. But at least then I'm still doing something productive with my time. Plus once you've finished & checked off some small stuff often I feel better about the tasks in general.

I think for me it takes a lot of energy to start a hard/important task, especially if I'm doubting if I can do it - or if I have never done it before or have to look it up to figure it out... If I'm also feeling anxious about the huge pile of other things I've got to do (even if they're small chores) then this can get to a crippling state where I don't want to do anything.

So again, sometimes just starting with some easy tasks to just get yourself moving, and saying "I am doing a good job, and I am getting stuff done" can then help me reduce the list. Make a written, physical list, and physically check it off. I know it seems trite for computer people to Not use tech to solve a problem, but you need to see it and get that dopamine hit when you check it off.