I could have written your post a year ago. I realized I needed to tackle this issue because it was affecting me both personally and professionally. The first th

I could have written your post a year ago. I realized I needed to tackle this issue because it was affecting me both personally and professionally. The first thing to realize is that not all projects warrant finishing. I think a project is worth doing if it falls into one or more of these three categories: 1. It pays the bills. 2. It's fun. 3. It's essential to your health and well-being. You need to make a living and have fun, but even those should not interfere with your personal welfare. Don't be afraid to let your interests lead you to a more satisfying career path, even if that means leaving the work behind for someone else to finish (or not). And no matter what you do, don't neglect your physical health, because you'll need it to truly enjoy any of your long-term gains. Also learn to say "No" to others and yourself. Some people accumulate projects like three-legged chairs on trash day. Is it really worth the time and effort? You can't solve everyone's problems and you've discovered that hoarding just clutters up your life. If you're going to dumpster-dive for projects, stick to bright shiny things, stuff that tastes good, or anything that brings easy cash at the pawn shop (metaphorically speaking). Most of the other junk in there is just that: ideas not worth keeping.