# Gaining momentum when trying to get things done on your to do list

**URL:** <https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/gaining-momentum-when-trying-to-get-things-done-on-your-to-do-list/1794>\
**Category:** uncategorized\
**Created:** [April 17, 2014, 2:28pm UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/gaining-momentum-when-trying-to-get-things-done-on-your-to-do-list/1794 "2014-04-17T14:28:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![williamkennedy](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/user_avatar/discourse.codinghorror.com/williamkennedy/32/36458_2.png) [@williamkennedy](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/williamkennedy)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 2:28pm UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/gaining-momentum-when-trying-to-get-things-done-on-your-to-do-list/1794/1 "2014-04-17T14:28:19Z")

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Continuing the discussion from [Three Things](http://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/three-things/1759):

I was wondering about getting started on your To Do list. How do people go about actually getting started. For me I use [Tiny Habits](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdKUJxjn-R8) to get started but I would love to hear other peoples advice.

How do you get started on your to do list or even big projects?

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**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/user_avatar/discourse.codinghorror.com/codinghorror/32/36371_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/codinghorror)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 7:33am UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/gaining-momentum-when-trying-to-get-things-done-on-your-to-do-list/1794/2 "2014-04-18T07:33:56Z")

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> <https://twitter.com/codinghorror/status/192830048598888448>

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**Author:** ![mshappe](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/user_avatar/discourse.codinghorror.com/mshappe/32/75444_2.png) [@mshappe](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/mshappe)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 11:13pm UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/gaining-momentum-when-trying-to-get-things-done-on-your-to-do-list/1794/3 "2014-04-23T23:13:13Z")

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Some of the best advice I’ve ever heard on the subject of big projects is a song from a musical. Not even a great musical, really.

“One Brick at a Time”, from _Barnum_.

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**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/user_avatar/discourse.codinghorror.com/codinghorror/32/36371_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/codinghorror)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 8:23am UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/gaining-momentum-when-trying-to-get-things-done-on-your-to-do-list/1794/4 "2014-04-24T08:23:21Z")

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Like so?

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**Author:** ![mshappe](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/user_avatar/discourse.codinghorror.com/mshappe/32/75444_2.png) [@mshappe](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/mshappe)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 4:04pm UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/gaining-momentum-when-trying-to-get-things-done-on-your-to-do-list/1794/5 "2014-04-24T16:04:25Z")

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That, yes 🙂

There are no big projects. Only lots of little projects that will eventually build something big. 🙂 And while some of those little projects might depend on others, in the end, the important part is to pick one and get moving.

Which reminds me…I’ve got a pile of PRs to review…

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**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/user_avatar/discourse.codinghorror.com/codinghorror/32/36371_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/codinghorror)\
**Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 6:39am UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/gaining-momentum-when-trying-to-get-things-done-on-your-to-do-list/1794/6 "2025-01-07T06:39:33Z")

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**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/user_avatar/discourse.codinghorror.com/codinghorror/32/36371_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/codinghorror)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 8:33am UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/gaining-momentum-when-trying-to-get-things-done-on-your-to-do-list/1794/7 "2025-02-06T08:33:15Z")

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