I am motivated to have a productive day.

Most days are decided before ten. Whatever you touch first sets the register — open the inbox and you spend the morning being useful to other people's priorities, which feels productive and leaves your own work untouched at half past four.

The hard thing first is old advice, and unpopular for a reason. It is genuinely unpleasant at nine in the morning.

But it only has to be endured once a day, and everything after it feels like coasting rather than like avoidance.