Thanks, everyone, for your responses.
On "work on one thing at a time" strategy, I have found that to be helpful already- current goals are keeping the kitchen clean and
flossing regularly (how's that for a mundane confession?
) and can attest to how good it feels.
Interesting experience the other day- I was working on a remodel, fitting trim to a window- very attention-to-detail, meticulous work. I was also stressed out at the time and kept making little mistakes. Between my determination to finish the project (to follow through on my commitment made to complete it) and my inability to focus on finishing it well, I wasted the entirety of the trim and naturally the project remains unfinished. What I found was that my anxiety prevented me on focusing but my stubbornness prevented me from stopping.
Has anyone else found this tension at work in them- trying to follow through, unable to do so well, but refusing to stop?