I happened upon a technique that works. If you have to do something big, don't try to deconstruct it to smaller tasks, plan it all out and create a schedule. Build a prototype of it instead, then a better prototype and so on. If you must have a deadline, have a close one, like next week or so.<p>Winning is really important, because the human brain is really short sighted, it needs to see that things are progressing, and it needs to believe that something can be done.<p>I'm working on an app that let's you measure your progress using a conversational interface that also suggests things for you to do. It purposefully only allows short-term planning, and supports no planning at all. It learns of your life through conversation and gives you tools to help change it. This is kind of what a psychologist does, they reflect you back to yourself and encourage you to try things, which works better if you can succeed at those things and believe that you can.