"List panic" is usually a symptom of one of two things. One, not doing your weekly review, or two, having things on your next action list that should be in your someday or maybe lists. If you have active projects that aren't really very important to you, try dropping them into someday-maybe. You can choose to bump them back up on your next weekly review, and you weren't going to get to them before then anyway.

I agree with you that long lists, even when broken down into contexts, can be intimidating. I think the best way to get out of panic mode is to 1) not focus on what you have to do, and 2) just get something done.

This might seem like a bit of a paradox, but let me explain.

There are a lot of items on your list, but how many of these are actually projects? I find if there is any hesitation not to do something, it's because I haven't properly defined the next action. I forget where David Allen said it, but you can't do projects. Projects are merely desired outcomes. Instead, we do actions leading up to those outcomes. If I had an action like "wash the salt off my car", it likely wouldn't ever get done. I'd hesitate because every time I'd glance at my list, I'd ask myself "How?" If there is any doubt as to how an action should be completed, it hasn't been properly defined as a very next physical action. Don't focus on the outcomes - focus instead on the next little step to get there. Placing a bucket next to the spigot and waiting for the garden hose to unfreeze might be the next action to washing the car.

Sometimes the best way for me to not worry about my lists is to just dive in. If your anxiety is coming from deciding what to do first, don't. Just start at the top of the list and work your way down. You'll feel better once you get into a working flow.

Also, if the list is really too much, you might want to do some triage and pick urgent items to do for this week. Look at your calendar and decide how much free time you'll have and what you think you can reasonably do. Don't worry about getting it all done. Push everything else that your not doing this week into your someday/maybe list or tickler file. You'll catch those actions next time you do your weekly review.

Hope this helps. I'll step down from the soapbox now. ;)

Looks like you beat me to these points, Jason. As you know, I agree 100%.