3 Ways To Keep Projects Moving Forward

Mondays are productivity days at SimpleProductivity blog.

Have you ever been excited to start something, only to have that interest wane and the project fizzle out?

In July we are going to look at projects: how to pick what to do, how to get started, how to move forward consistently, how to fix stalled projects, and what to do after you finish a project.

Today we look at how to keep projects moving forward.

Keeping Momentum Going

In physics, we have the Law of Inertia:

“Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it.”

We know that if we are already doing something, it is easy to keep going. We also know that if we aren’t doing something, it is easier to keep not doing it.

The Law of Inertia applies to projects as well. So how do we keep those projects going and moving forward?

Three Techniques

We’re going to look at three techniques that not only make it easy to start, but will ensure your projects keep moving forward.

Make It Easy To Start

Are you more likely to sweep the floor when the broom is right at hand, or when you have to go to the garage, move the bikes, and then pull the cobwebs off the broom?

Are you more likely to work on your book when your writing program is open in front of you, or when you have to go digging through menus and documents to open it up?

The easier it is to start something, the more likely you are to start it.

Set yourself up for success. Make things easy. Move tools near where they will be used. Create shortcuts to get to things more easily.

Give yourself a break. Don’t do difficult.

Do A Little Each Day

Mark Forster said “work little and often.” (see Work Little and Often) because doing that can get you further on a project than if you wait until you have a great deal of time.

If you spend 15 minutes each day on your project, by the end of week two you will have spent 3.5 hours on the project. If instead you had spent an hour a week on the project, you would still be 1.5 hours behind the level of 15 minutes!

Plus, doing a little each day keeps your mind in the game.

Now you may be thinking, “I can’t get anything done in 15 minutes!” So I have a challenge for you: get a kitchen timer and set it for 15 minutes. Now work full-out on your project until the timer goes off. Surprising, isn’t it?

Break It Down

Of course, tackling a huge project works better if you don’t see the whole project, but only a small, achievable bit.

It’s easier to clean your sock drawer than it is to purge and reorganize the whole bedroom.

It’s easier to write a single slide of a presentation than it is to write sixty.

It’s easier to research degree options than it is to complete a master’s.

Breaking down a project into do-able bits makes it easier to do the project. If you make it so simple that it takes no effort to do it, you will get the task done without even thinking about it!

The Powerhouse Triple Play

Now, what happens when you put all three together?

You break your tasks into 15 minute chunks that are easy to do?

You guessed it…massive project progress.

Conclusion

If you have a project and are having trouble making progress, try working every day, making it easy, and breaking it down. Or try all three together.

Over To The Readers

Have you ever gotten through a project on one of the three above? Have you tried all three together? What were your results?

Photo by Steve Worsethandetroit. Licensed under Creative Commons.