My best productivity trick is when I sit down to build something I write a note. I define the problem I want to solve, then I define the solution I have in mind. This tends to give me time to think through the different paths, and I finish the note up with a rough list of todos so that I have a way to get started immediately.

I find writing all these things out as if Im explaining it to someone else allows me to get all my thoughts in a line. Also gives a good foundation for the PR when im done.