Break it Down, Get It Done; A Guide To Heading Off Procrastination

So often the projects we seem to procrastinate on or run out of time for are projects that involve multiple tasks. These are not projects that allow for one-step completion, but require a series of steps or tasks. In knowing that we should be working on these projects but aren’t, we carry the guilt of not only incompletion, but the fact that we can’t even seem to get started! The project seems overwhelming and weighs heavy in our heads with that “I should be doing it” feeling. Whether personal or work related, we are often dealing with two or more major projects at any given time. Some examples might be planning a major training event, de-cluttering your home, planning a vacation, or organizing a child’s birthday party.

Through this article I would like to assist you in getting control of that project, tackling it and staying on top of it.

STEP ONE: Choose one of your projects.

STEP TWO: With a small pack of sticky notes and a pen randomly write individual tasks that you think will be required to complete this project, each task on its own sticky note. Don’t worry about them being right or being in order; simply jot your tasks down until you feel comfortable that you have a large portion of the tasks required to complete the project. If any are missing you will soon discover them.

STEP THREE: With each task on an individual stickie it is time to place them in the sequence required to best accomplish the project. I like to place my stickies on a large write on/wipe off board, but any large surface that you are able to see every day will do, some folks even put them right on their wall.

STEP FOUR: Write the title of your project on a larger stickie or simply write it on the top of the board. Now, look at your tasks and determine which one would have to happen first, second, third, etc. For instance, if you are planning the birthday party for your son your first task might be “talk with son about his wishes”. Then follow up with the next noted task following the next until you have developed your sequence of tasks. As you are placing a sticky task on the board your mind may alert you to other tasks, just write out the new tasks and shuffle the stickies into their new line up.

STEP FIVE: Now that your tasks are in order it is time to find a place in your schedule for completion of the tasks. Take them one at a time and look at your calendar to see where you might fit task number one into your schedule. For the example we used earlier, when can you sit down with your son and discuss his desires for the party? Block it out as an appointment on your calendar today. Half the battle is to get started! I recommend that my clients jump on task one within the next 24 hours. By the way, those desires your son has for his party may become new tasks (additional stickies) in your project, but you are ready for them!