You know when you feel a little behind, a little stressed? You have a list of things you need to get through, a list just that little bit longer than you can comfortably keep in your head.
(I may - surprise - have been in this situation during Sunday and much of Monday.)
So, you write it down. But you still need to refer to it to see all of it, so when you are not looking at it you always feel a little bit uncomfortable and uncertain about what exactly is there in its entirety.
At that point, I have noticed a trap for my mind: To procrastrinate by thinking that what I really need to feel in control is to somehow get that list into my mind. Perhaps prioritize it better. Perhaps re-write it in more or less detail.
Stop. This way lies detours, more stress, and frustration.
The real solution is of course to get that list down to size by finishing off the tasks. Grab something, and work on it.
Swat a few mosquito tasks if you like, the small, annoying things which are quick to get out of the way but look just as large as the big things when you stare at your list in frustration. Suddenly, the list is down to half the size!
Now it fits in your mind, and you have made a lot of progress!
Or, start with a big one. The difference in feeling as you actually get moving on a big task is amazing. Not least since look: all the other tasks on the list are that much smaller!
The list is not as short as if you had swatted a bunch of small tasks, but it is so much less imposing when you are making progress on a big task. Steamrolling small tasks will be a pleasure after getting the big ones out of the way.