Motivationless Productivity

This snippet used to be called "Avoiding Burnout" but I realised that these tips didn't really have much to do with burnout. I realised these tips were more about keeping a spark of motivation going, especially when energy reserves are low.

Ever had a strong spark or burst of motivation to do something but then you work on it a bit, go to sleep, and wake up the next morning with a dullness inside; finding it hard to re-ignite that spark? These tips are bits I’ve collected/observed that may help in re-igniting that spark or keeping the motivation burning for longer:

End a session with clear next steps of what to do next (e.g. Know what needs to be implemented next in software, or know what comes next in a story or essay).
Do not exert all your energy at once. Try to stop when spirits are still high and the path ahead is clear.
Control the scope of projects. Break things into smaller chunks and focus on those that will produce results quickly instead of worrying about the whole picture right away.
Create habits around mundane parts of life to make room for creative thinking.
Always have the ability to write down ideas and notes anywhere.
Always have several problems or projects active for your subconscious to ponder.
Externalize checklists, mundane tasks, appointments and reminders to a more appropriate medium (notebook, notes or calendar app, etc).
Save old ideas and projects even if they have “failed”. They might still come in handy in the future.
Design a space that encourages productivity and minimizes distraction (but don’t fuss about making it perfect).