Generally I keep two different lists. One is for things I have to do on at a specific time (generally by day). This is often work related things, appointments, etc
Then I have a list for “Someday Maybe”. The wording of this is important. At the moment I add the task it feels pretty important, but often that feeling fades. I purposefully let that list cook for a while and come back to it one a weekly basis. If the thing still seems exciting I’ll pick it up.
This is pretty vague and not exactly how I do things day to day, but the key points are: reframing some tasks as “someday” or “maybe”. That reduces guilt if I don’t end up doing them but even more importantly it reduces mental clutter. It’s on paper so I can forget about it for now and refocus on the moment
Often, i will go to science fiction (Rudy Rucker) to "drink from the well" and generate some inspiration for new ideas, projects, etc. This is one of the real-life sources that gives me that same feeling.
It's just amazing and awe inspiring to see something that felt truly "out of the future". You can probably draw lines to existing inventions and research but to me, this felt like he lived in the world where this technology already existed and was giving us a glimpse.
