On Getting Things Done

I have a list of fifteen things that has to get done before I go to work in four hours and guess how many of them I want to do?

Yes, correct.. ZERO.

And it's not things like "brush the cat" or "dust the vacuum" or anything frivolous.  It's things like "take a [much-needed] shower" and "dust the really filthy kitchen ceiling fan that is shedding dust bunnies and threatens to ruin your 20 pound turkey".

So here's what you do:

1. Make coffee.  This might seem like an unnecessary step, but it is not.  If you are not a coffee drinker, make tea.  If you drink neither of those beverages, I really question how you came to enjoy reading this blog, but do a thing that will gird your loins for the tasks ahead.
2. Do the least painful item first.  I have to prep sweet potatoes since there won't be room in the oven tomorrow and duh, I don't know how to cook potatoes in the oven anyway, so putting sweet potatoes in the InstaPot with a cup of water and turning it on is definitely low on the effort scale (note: it is a 3). 
3. Drink some coffee.  Or, write a blog post.  Do what you have to do to congratulate yourself on that first task, because now that the least painful job is done, you have real work to do.
4. Put those real work items in an order that makes sense.  Need to run to attic to make copies of book report forms for your kid?  Bring that folded laundry (BLESS YOU JESUS FOR FOLDED LAUNDRY AND NOT THE UNFOLDED KIND THAT HAUNTS MY LIVING ROOM) up to the bedrooms and put it away on your way to the attic.  As you come down from the attic with your fresh, warm copies (enjoy that part, just a little bit), grab the tablecloth from storage to cover your extra [kids'] table (now you're ahead one task from tomorrow's list!).  
5. Just keep swimming. Dory and Nike ("just do it") really have the right idea.  
6. Feeling overwhelmed?  Think of the relaxing evening you'll have ahead of you after you've completed everything.  Instead of having to do A, B, and C, you can do U, V, and W (which are along the lines of watching Marvel television shows, knitting, and dusting the vacuum).