Overwhelmed Tactics

I have dozens of interesting projects. I have several competing priorities that need attention, and I intend to ignore the ones I love. I use a couple of tactics to slow down, focus, and make progress.

1. Write down what's distracting me. What is capturing my attention.? I use Apple Notes most often, but anything works, including paper. I can also take a picture of it. If it's a book I want to read, I take picture instead of buying it. My mind tends to relax if the distraction is recorded somewhere. I get a sense of peace knowing I'm doing all I can do right now, and I'll get to you (the distraction) soon.
2. Pick an important project or agenda. I don't waste too much time attempting to figure out the most important. I don't just pick anything. I select one project among the group of important. I'm looking for good enough not absolute best. Remember I'm going to switch topics soon enough, so the risk of working on the wrong project is low.
3. Set a timer. The timer is a two edged sword. It keeps me focused for 25 to 90 minutes, depending on schedule and scope. The timer also lets me breath easy knowing I can address the other hot topic soon enough. Each will get a turn. This turn-taking lets me relax and focus on one project at a time.
4. When in doubt, what's going to help tomorrow? What project is going to set up tomorrow for a win? For me, it is often preparing to teach. Maybe it's meal prep, cleaning the house, doing laundry, gathering books to return, grading papers, reading a new chapter? Working on tomorrow has a compound impact. I get good work done today, and I get more time tomorrow to do well what needs to be done.
5. Let it drop. Try to juggle too many projects and I will drop them all, not just the last one I added. I accept that some projects will be late or unaddressed. If I'm doing the best I can, then I accept that what is outside of my best is going to suffer. I'm okay with dropping what I can't carry. I do strive to get better each day. I do ask for help - early and often. I have systems in place, but still too much is by definition too much. The secret is saying no.
6. Say no to everything else. I understand my primary task in life, my calling, is to teach. I say yes to nearly any teaching request and say no to nearly everything else. Saying yes is like being in debt. I am a slave to whom I owe, so I am careful about my yes and liberal with my no.