From Optimize for momentum:
So the trick is to design your workflow around staying in motion. Don’t wait for the perfect idea or the right mood. Act first. Clarity comes after. If a task feels intimidating, cut it down until it becomes trivial. Open the file. Draft one paragraph. Try freewriting. Run one experiment. Or sketch one figure. You want the smallest possible task that gets the wheel turning. Completion, even on tiny tasks, builds momentum and creates the energy to do the next thing. The goal is to get traction and stop getting blocked on an empty page.
Murat is discussing research here, but I’ve found the same process is key in systems design, or writing code or documentation, or drafting a presentation. Getting the project started, and then maintaining a sense of forward progress, is really essential to getting the thing done.