What are you waiting for?  Let’s get these projects done!

Do you have an unfinished project that just sits and every time you see it you feel a little guilty for not completing it? Do you have a task or project that you started, but your interest just fizzled and you never finished?   Do you do this repeatedly?  Not to worry, today I am sharing 5 steps to finish those challenging projects you start, but never completed.

Yesterday, I wrote about starting difficult tasks and if starting difficult tasks and projects is challenging for you, but sure to read the steps for getting started.  If you have a project you want to start, but don’t know the first step, read How to Start Difficult Tasks.

What project did you start but not complete?  Maybe you started a home renovation like painting your house yourself or updating your kitchen.  What about personal goals?  Do you set them and get started, but somewhere along the way you just forget or stop working toward that goal?  (I do this frequently, and I will explain why and how to fix it below).

What about your children?  Do they have difficulty completing homework or chores you ask them to do?  Try the steps below to better understand and get your children to complete their chores and school work.

5 Steps to Complete Challenging Tasks and Projects

Understand your mindset

Why did you stop working on the project or the goal?  What keeps you from completing this task?  Do you avoid it because the task it distasteful and unenjoyable?

Once you understand why you avoid the task or project, you will be able to recognize when you are off task and avoiding this project because you have the wrong mindset.   Sometimes, we just have do it!  Even the unpleasant tasks.

My son avoids schoolwork and homework because it’s challenging for him and he doesn’t enjoy it.  He would rather play a game or build Legos.  To get his school work and homework done, I have to recognize this challenge and work with him and show him how completing the difficult (and in his mind unpleasant) schoolwork allows more time for the fun things he enjoys.

When you set the project or goal, was it realistic?

The number one reason why I don’t complete projects or goals I set is because I set the project too large or I don’t give myself enough time to complete it.   I let myself believe I will do what I can and then I will reset the goal.  But that doesn’t happen.  I usually just don’t complete much of the goal or project and never reset it.

Learn to recognize when you have set an unachievable goal.

Give yourself a realistic project and time to complete it

If you are not completing tasks (including homework for children) or projects because the project is too big or the time frame is not realistic, break the project into smaller parts that can be completed within your time frame.

For example, my son and daughter are both working on book reports this month.  To complete the reading the books and writing the reports, I have divided the book into smaller sections and set times to complete each section.  This way, we don’t have to read the whole book in too short of a time period and then rush writing the report.  But, if I did not break the book into smaller reading sections, it probably would not get read at all (p.s. for my son this means I have to have a set number of pages to read each day).

Set project timelines to match your personality.

Don’t avoid tasks because you don’t enjoy them

I’ll admit it, I don’t do tasks and projects I don’t like to do.  I would never clean my house except I have disciplined myself that I have to complete set chores on set days (they are doable on those days).  I would still avoid them if I could, because I just don’t like doing them.

What about tasks at work your avoid?  I have monthly reports, I don’t enjoy doing them.  But I cannot avoid them or they will be late and just keep piling up.  What task at work do you avoid?

I cannot let myself come up with excuses to skip those chores and reports.   You know what, I always feel better when I am done and my house is a little cleaner and my work is done.

Now Just Do It!

Decide today to get the project done.  Don’t let the task wait any longer. Once you finish this task or project, start another one (there will always be another one).  Get started now and let me know what you get done!

Don’t let your mindset stop you from completing your tasks.  Recognize your challenges.  Set realistic times frames to complete your projects, don’t avoid tasks just because you don’t like it (you know the work project I am talking about). Go, get started you’ll be done before you know it!

Your turn…

How are you going to get your projects done this week? What’s the next step for you?