I use this tactic too. Doesn’t matter how shit I feel, if I have something else running in the background (washing machine, dishwasher, even the rice cooking) my brain will be more likely to get stuff done in between. Music also helps.
I think the inertia for me comes from this sinking feeling that the work is unending. having an inbuilt timer in the form of the background machine activity, and the music, helps me trick my brain.