Each of these requires a different strategy to get going:  Dealing with boring tasks-If the task you're doing is going to be a slog, that's probably because it doesn't really occupy your mind. It may be repetative or something that you have done so many times before that you're just not interested in it. This may be a case when a little distraction can help. If the task is one you can do without a lot of thought, then play a little music or even listening to a light podcast while you work, might actually help the task go more smoothly. The small amount of distraction that you're causing shouldn't decrease the quality of your work, and might just make it fun. And of course-don't forget to give yourself a little reward at the end of the task, or take a short break to do something you enjoy.           Dealing with complex tasks:  You might have more concerns that the work is going to be too intense. In that case, one of the first things you need to do rather than feeling like you have to complete the entire thing in one shot, just commit to working on it for 15 to 20 minutes. You might not want to dive into something heavy for hours, but you can often convince yourself to just get started if you're not making a long-term commitment. The beauty of this strategy is that you get yourself on the road to completing this item on your list. And-more importantly-once you get started, you'll often find that you're enjoying the intensity of the work more than you expected, and so you keep working far longer than you anticipated. Rather than feeling like you have to complete the entire thing in one shot, just commit to working on it for 15 to 20 minutes. You might not want to dive into something heavy for hours, but you can often convince yourself to just get started if you're not making a long-term commitment. The beauty of this strategy is that you get yourself on the road to completing this item on your list. And more importantly, once you get started, you'll often find that you're enjoying the intensity of the work more than you expected, and so you keep working far longer than you anticipated.  Dealing with a task beyond your grasp:  The thorniest tasks that stay on your list are ones that (deep down) you realize you aren't prepared to do. You might not understand exactly what is required of you. You might not be skilled at a key component of the job. You might not really know what steps you need to take to succeed. This is the best place to phone a friend (or colleage or supervisor). Get some help getting started. If you're not sure what to do, ask the person who assigned you the job in the first place. If you have concerns about your skills, get some coaching from someone who is better at it than you are. Use that person as a resource to help you complete the task yourself. Don't give in to learn new skills. Treat this as a practice session. Finally, if you're not really certain about the steps to take, work through this with someone with more experience. Start by laying out your own plan for how to accomplish the goal. Then, check your plan with a montor. Once you have established the tasks you need to do, put these on your to-do list and get started.                                         ART MARKMAN, PhD, is a Professor of Psychology and marketing at the University of Texas in Austin and Founding Director of the program in the human demensions of organizations.