heavy going

count sheep

To attempt to go to sleep by thinking of something boring, traditional…

donkey work

Work that is difficult, boring, and routine.

in the thick of

In the middle of (something difficult).

tickle the dragon's tail

To do something that has a risk of going catastrophically wrong.

pull off

To achieve, accomplish, succeed at (something difficult).

stepping stone

Something used as a way to progress to something or somewhere else.