How to Commit to the Work
Something I have been proud of lately is my commitment to getting projects done. Whether they are house projects or writing projects, I have made every effort to push forward and see them through. As I have said before, I have a long history of dropping projects halfway through, but I have adopted a few tricks to help me get through to the finish line.
Use a Planner
Do you remember having planners in middle and high school? Writing what your homework was for the night and what not? Well, earlier this year I purchased a beautiful planner that is helping me plan and execute my projects like a pro. There is something so satisfying about check-marking off the list of things you had planned for a day. I aim to utilize my planner Monday through Friday and keep weekends free from any “to-do” lists.
The key to actually using a planner is to find one that best suits you. A planner should be laid out in a way that will make you want to open it up every day rather than it collecting dust on your nightstand after a month. The good thing is that there are so many planners out there today, you just have to shop around. So, find your right planner and get to planning!
Space Out Tasks
I recently took on a project of painting our kitchen cabinets. That project included degreasing, sanding, and painting three coats of paint on five drawers and sixteen cabinets. Although this project had been written in my planner as an idea for some time now, it ended up being a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing one Saturday morning. After taking the initial step to start, I realized I had to map out the whole process on a day-to-day basis if I was going to see it through to the end. This way, I had a goal to reach every day and figured I would finish when the last cabinet was painted as opposed to scheduling a hard deadline. Spacing out the tasks of a project, similar to my small goals technique, helps to put it in perspective and make it all more manageable.
Take a Break
Project burnout, like all burnouts, is very real. Taking small breaks in between a longer project helps the mind and body relax rather than going into overdrive. I am guilty of starting projects, going from zero to one hundred, and acting as if I am not allowed to stop and breathe. That planner I mentioned earlier? I’ll even use it to plan a day or two in-between to just chill and not think about the project. If you’re anything like me, then deadlines make you freak out and less likely to finish what you started. So take those breaks because the project is not going anywhere without you.
Enjoy the Process
I cannot stress it enough that if you are not enjoying the projects you set out to do, and there is no dire need to do them, then do not plan for them. Work on projects that you are excited about finishing! Every week I have a writing goal, and every week I am excited to see what I will come up with next. If I dreaded this weekly goal, then why the hell would I plan it for myself to do? Projects should not be chores. Set out to do something the brings you joy, plan it out, space it out, and crush it!
I hope these tricks help you plan for something that you have been wanting to do for a while now. Never let the idea of a project intimidate you to the point of not doing it because it will almost always be worth it in the end. So try it out and push forward. You will be surprised at what you can accomplish.
