Pay attention to what you can’t stop thinking about. That’s usually the project.

Obsession is a reliable signal and a cheap one, since noticing it costs nothing. A subject you keep returning to without deciding to is already holding your attention, and attention is the fuel a long project runs on. Choosing a worthier topic usually means choosing something you will abandon in three weeks. The thing you cannot drop has already proved it can carry you.

Write down what has been on your mind repeatedly this month, including the embarrassing items. Pick the one you would still think about with nobody watching. Make that the next project rather than the sensible option.