Take what is really most important but can wait (painting the girl’s bedroom) and add it to what absolutely has to be done (prepare tonight’s dinner). Mix in a decent amount of the project without a deadline (say, writing a book that doesn’t have a publisher yet) and the occasional emergency (fish the kid out of the pool, just kidding, but you have to watch for it). Add a pinch of the things too irritating to ignore (ringing phones and doorbells). Stir well, pour into prepared pan, and dump in garbage.

Go read the book that’s been calling to you.

@Adam: Investment is one I hadn’t thought of. I guess it’s true that the more I’d have to spend on something, the less likely I am to do it…Maybe I should add that in somewhere.

Other stuff I’ve considered or used in the past: Has a partner, delegateable, difficulty (negative), investment (negative).

Fun to be had * Things to be learned^2 / Time it would take

I usually don’t get any money (yet!!! ) for what I do every day in my spare time, but I like it anyway. And I’m improving my “mad coding skills” with every testing program etc., so that’s like a very important thing to me.

As soon as I’m going to get money for my work, I think my formula will miraculously change to something like yours.

If I priorize things at all.