[fleddr]

I start every day with the creation of a shortlist of MUST-DO tasks. Things I must absolutely finish not just to stay out of trouble, also to not consider myself a failure. I willingly instill a sense of urgency and remove optionality for these tasks, even if I have to dramatize it. These tasks typically add up to about 4 hours of work. For me this is a sweet spot, a kind of minimum where even if all else fails, I can look back on a reasonable day and feel OK about myself. It's a contract with yourself. Nobody cares if you're motivated to honor a contract, a contract demands you honor it regardless.

By doing this as a habit, you train yourself to keep some momentum even when not motivated. Kind of an auto pilot thing. If you'd even struggle with this block of work, look for ways to make it more fun. Play some music, take short walks outside, play with your pet. Yet avoid things that suck you in, like Youtube.

As for the rest of the day and tasks, I ride my energy flow instead of fighting it. When I feel slow and weak, I read email and update notes. When I feel better, I do more challenging tasks.