Finish What You Started

By Author: avii
Total Articles: 2
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Do you have a habit of starting and abandoning projects?
If that's the case, you're not alone. Many people have the poor tendency of starting tasks and then abandoning them, which is a bad habit to have.
It needs careful planning and deliberate action to complete a job successfully. If you've ever started a project, you're aware that each goal/project has its unique set of hurdles that aren't immediately apparent.
In the process of running my business and chasing my own goals, I take on a lot of projects, and I've learned a lot about how to complete projects from start to finish.
Why We Abandon Projects
It's like falling in love with a new project. It's enthralling, emotionally stimulating, and full of the natural motivator of novelty. Perhaps we will become obsessed with this new activity. We perceive it to be "all fine" and pay little attention to potential roadblocks, drawbacks, or issues we may face shortly.
Then, after some time has passed, the activity (or book, or lessons, or relationship) becomes more difficult than we anticipated. It takes longer to accomplish than we anticipated, ...
... or it involves tedium and drudgery. We recognize we're not sure what to do next. We come to a standstill because we're stuck. We usually aren't aware that we've effectively given up attempting. No, we simply postponed "going back to it" until we believe it will be straightforward once more.
Perfectionism and the concern that the next actions will not be good enough may or may not feel this type of procrastination. Regardless, certain modes of thinking will almost always stop you in your tracks. There's a stumbling block, a wall, or a worry in the way.
Although laziness is a contributing factor, few of us are lazy when it comes to doing what we enjoy, what is simple, and what is inherently fulfilling.
Here are my top ten suggestions for completing projects:
Choose your projects carefully.
Before you begin a project (especially one of this magnitude), make sure it is something you are enthusiastic about and want to complete.
I've started activities that I was just half-interested in before, such as studying tennis or learning Japanese. I eventually came to a halt in the middle of their journey. As a result, time and resources were squandered that could have been better used elsewhere. As a result, I'm more aware of how I spend my time and energy today.
The completion rate is higher when you set a high bar for what you want to accomplish. If you're not sure if this is something you want to do, take a modest step into the water first and see if it's something you're interested in.
Calculate the resources you'll require.
Companies perform resource planning, which involves estimating the number of resources required for a project. Then they figure out how much labor and money they'll need. For us, this entails making a rapid estimate of how much time and work this proposal will require so that we can get a bird's eye view of the situation.
It doesn't need to be exhaustive. Even a simple outline will assist. The objective is to have something to point you in the right direction.
Spend your time and efforts wisely.
After you've finished your outline, you should have a good notion of how much time and effort it will take to finish it. Plan out your time and resources and include them into your schedule/to-do list accordingly. Schedule time for the project in your calendar. Give yourself a safety net in case of unforeseen circumstances.
When people underestimate the amount of labor required to bring a goal to reality, they are more likely to lose their passion or energy. Good resource planning aids in the planning of your energies and expectations. You'll manage yourself adequately to accomplish your desired end because you know you'll have to put in X hours and X work to attain the final output. This will result in a better rate of project success.
Stop being a stickler for perfection.
How many of us keep putting off work because we want it to be perfect? I'm all for striving for perfection and producing the greatest work possible, but if your need for perfection is keeping you from getting things done, I believe it's time to confront it.
Try these two suggestions: Break the task down into small parts first, then concentrate on one aspect at a time. If you're still putting things off after breaking it down, break it down into even smaller bits. Soon, you'll be left with such simple work that you'll wonder why you've been putting it off for so long!
Commit to it.
Once you've started, stick with it. Do whatever you've set out to do. Allow yourself to abandon a project if it truly does not align with your vision, but otherwise stick to your word.
Consider what is more essential to you — your family or your career. Are you going out this weekend to party or to concentrate on that business you've been planning to start?
The former may provide you with some temporary gratification, but the latter is what will truly satisfy you. The benefits of performing the latter are ones that you'll continue to reap for a long time.
Connect with your long-term goals.
You may have had a similar experience. You're always full of energy and enthusiasm when you start a new endeavor. Then, when you get into the thick of things, this vitality begins to fade away. You're still enthusiastic about the project as a whole, but not so much about the specific chores that come with it.
But all of this grunt effort is necessary to arrive at your lovely idea in the end. Every action you take today contributes to the realization of that eventual goal. It's only that you lose sight of it since you're preoccupied with your routine.
The issue here is that your peripheral vision has slipped away from you; simply bring it back into focus. Surround yourself with anything that reminds you of your ultimate objectives, such as your vision board, photos of others who have accomplished the same goal, and objects that signify the aim.
Take the road that brings you the most pleasure.
Being adaptable in my project management technique has shown to be one of the most straightforward ways to finish my assignments. Most people, for example, will complete the activities on their to-do list in the order they were assigned. Task 1 comes first, then Task 2, Task 3, and so on. Doesn't that sound straightforward?
This was something I did for a long time before realizing it wasn't the most efficient technique. For example, some days I would put off working on a project because I preferred Task 3 to Task 1. However, according to the project management rule, I had to complete Task 1 first before moving on to Task 3.
Working on the project, on the other hand, becomes like a big adventure when I give myself flexibility over what to accomplish (while staying inside the boundaries of the project). This method makes me feel as if I'm in a candy store, where I can choose whatever candy I want.
This is what I call the road of utmost enjoyment: doing what makes you feel the happiest right now. You will become more productive at work as a result of doing so.
Keep track of your progress.
Tracking your progress allows you to see how you're progressing and provides what you intend to strive for. It will be easier to maintain your momentum as a result of this.
Make a project sheet to keep track of your goals and current status. Make a list of the KPIs you wish to attain. If you want to lose weight, your KPIs will be your weight, fat percentage, and possibly your exercise session performance.
Then, once a week, evaluate your progress. What percentage of your overall target have you met? Is it on track to meet your objectives? What is your goal for the coming week? Tracking helps you stay on track by holding you accountable for your goal.
Take pride in what you've accomplished thus far.
With all of the tasks that need to be done, we can become discouraged. It appears like no matter how much time we devote to it, we will never be able to complete it. We become overwhelmed by the amount of work and decide to quit halfway through.
Here's the thing: everything you've accomplished thus far IS an achievement! Give yourself a big bear embrace and a hearty pat on the back. Everything should be celebrated: the process, the resting, the doing, the completion. Take advantage of the opportunity to re-energize and re-group. Continue doing what you're doing when you're ready.
If it's not working out, don't push it.
It's natural to lose interest in a goal from time to time. It happens all the time, and it's perfectly natural. We evolve, our interests shift, and we are constantly inundated with new ideas and inspiration.
It may appear to be a huge waste to throw everything out, but it isn't. You're capable of a lot more than you think. Trying to hang on to what you've accomplished just serves to keep more good from coming your way.
In my work, I frequently use the drop-and-go method. In addition to the 400+ pieces on my site Personal Excellence, there are roughly 100 half-written articles that have yet to be published (yet). Some are ten percent finished, others are thirty percent finished, and others are halfway finished. I don't make it a point to finish these essays; instead, I write when my inspiration leads me.
You might wonder if all the effort put into writing the posts (halfway) was wasted. Not in the least. All of them contribute to my 10,000 hours of experience. Writing them teaches me something, and that knowledge will be useful in future postings.
Allow yourself to leave what you're doing if it's not working out, and you might just find a slew of other opportunities waiting for you.