There are at least three reasons I find it helpful to top-load my task list with easy items.
Motion. The first step on any project is usually the toughest. But when you start with the easy steps, you lower the threshold for taking action. This is how you trick your brain into starting.
Emotion. Getting some quick-wins boosts your mood. According to researchers Francesca Gino and Bradley Staats,
[F]inishing immediate, mundane tasks actually improves your ability to tackle tougher, important things. Your brain releases dopamine when you achieve goals. And since dopamine improves attention, memory, and motivation, even achieving a small goal can result in a positive feedback loop that makes you more motivated to work harder going forward.
That’s exactly what happens for me. My excitement level actually goes up as I work.
Momentum. Getting started and feeling good about your progress means it’s easy to build momentum—just like I did with my manuscript. Gino and Staats say checking items off your list frees up mental and emotional energy to focus on other projects. You might also find the tough items get easier as you go.
The opposite is also true. When you start with the hardest projects first, you can drain your mental and emotional energy. Now you’re lagging—and still looking a handful of small jobs on your to-do list. Now the easy looks hard. It’s a momentum killer.
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