I think the trick that almost everybody uses, even if they don't realize it, is to determine what the simplest (read: least time consuming) possible task to mov

I think the trick that almost everybody uses, even if they don't realize it, is to determine what the simplest (read: least time consuming) possible task to move their project forward is. Even if you spend time thinking about this and "not getting anything done", you're really getting planning done. When you've figured out what that task is it's easy to knock it out, and you'll probably do it pretty quickly because you've been thinking the problem through. And don't read Hacker News :)