I’ve got a big writing project I want to start, but instead of actually starting it, I’m going to blog about it instead.
I’ve always had trouble starting new projects. In high school I was a bad procrastinator who often watched TV and played video games when I should have been writing papers, and as an adult I developed productive procrastination habits where I do the million and one other things I have to do apart from the difficult project, thus creating the illusion of productivity.
I guess I just get intimidated by big projects. If I start something new, I know I’m going to have to finish it, which can feel downright scary.
A lot of other people, though, start projects easily because they’re excited about them. Unfortunately, when the initial excitement wears off the person will often have trouble finishing or even making progress. People who have this problem might also start too many creative projects so that individual ones get lost in the shuffle.
This leads me to the big question: Do you have trouble starting new projects, or trouble finishing them? Here are some thoughts on both…
Having Trouble Starting?
Acknowledge Your Fear
A BIG step (and one I took recently with the project I’m having trouble starting) is to acknowledge your fear of the large project. This instantly alleviates a lot of my anxiety because I don’t have to keep the fear bottled up anymore and can talk openly about it in an honest way (like I do on this blog).
Talking about this openly with a friend last week (thanks, Stu!) helped clarify a lot of this. In the process of admitting my own fear, I was also able to realize the resources, knowledge, and tools that I was missing to get the project done.
Break the Project Into Smaller Chunks
In the process of talking about my fear, I was able to make a plan of attack pretty naturally, which involved some crucial first steps. In my case, those first steps involved some specific research I needed to do to fill in my knowledge gaps, as well making an outline and experimentating with prose style. Suddenly, what had previously been a gigantic fear-inducing murky ball of Stuff That Needed To Be Done felt more manageable, and I knew instantly that I was capable of doing all of it.
Once again, isolating individual steps for completing the project made them feel a lot more real—and a LOT easier to tackle.
Make a Plan
Once you know the different chunks that make up your project, it should be easy to assemble them into an actual plan of attack. That plan might have to be adjusted along the way, but for me, as long as I have a rough outline and a direction to move in, I can feel confident taking those first steps.
Set a Start Date
To make that first step easier, I like to set a start date: for example, on Monday I’ll take a look at my weekly schedule and decide that on Thursday afternoon, no matter what, I’m going to start that first stage.
On the surface this might seem like more procrastination, but for me, it’s actually the same as setting any other appointment I feel obligated to keep, because once that date’s set, I’ll take it more seriously and will be less likely to put it off. Setting a later start time also has the added benefit of giving you time to unconsciously think about the project and do some sweet mental planning, which makes you more prepared when you finally start!
I owe a lot of thanks to these two articles for the tips on getting started on big projects, so check them out if you want to learn more!
Having Trouble Finishing?
Be Open About Your Project With Others
No matter what stage of a project I’m working on, talking openly about it (like I did with my friend the other day) helps keep the fear and nervousness at bay, and the project goes from a big scary intimidating Thing to Be Finished into just another set of Things I’m Working On.
On another level, talking about your project also holds you accountable—why do you think I keep this blog and share what I’m working on???
Do More Research and Planning Before You Start
In contrast to someone like me who does a LOT of thinking, planning, and outlining before starting a project, you might be the kind of person who leaps right in—which is great! However, you might then find yourself at a point where you’re not sure about the next step…in which case, it’s probably time to do some mid-project planning.
As yourself some basic questions: Where do you want to go from here? What smaller steps do you need to take to reach that goal? And how can you tackle those smaller steps one at a time to make progress? Try following my suggestions for people who have trouble starting, and go from there!
Don’t Take On Too Much
Yeah, I do this a lot. If you also find yourself taking on too much (including multiple long-term creative projects), it might be time to cut back and focus on your top priorities, like I’ve been doing in recent weeks.
Set Realistic Goals
Some projects are simply Too. Damn. Big. to finish with the time resources you have available—and that’s OK. Maybe you need to scale the project back into something you can finish—or divide it into smaller projects that you can finish one at a time, which can help you feel that thrill of accomplishment and enjoy a small win that’ll push you forward.
Or, you might need to acknowledge that some projects might not get done this year, or next year, or even the year after that—and that’s OK, as long as you keep moving toward that final step. (And trust me, it feels AWESOME when you put the finishing touches on something you’ve been working on for literally years!)
Ask Yourself Why You’re Working on This Project
This is a more existential-type question, but it’s an important one for sure: Are you working on this project because you want to, or because you feel obligated to? If you don’t feel motivated to continue or make the time, it might be because you’re not as excited about the project as you used to be—or you’ve reassessed your priorities and decided you want to be working on something else instead.
It can be hard to admit that you’ve moved on from something you used to be more passionate about, but it’s important to be honest with yourself. Keeping up the charade of working on a project you’re not invested in takes up valuable mental energy you could be using for other things—even if those things are family, hobbies, friends, or a Day Job.
Knowing yourself, and what you REALLY want to be working on, is a fundamental step that a lot of us underestimate at times—including me.
For this section I owe a lot to this article and also this one that includes a cool graphic of the Dark Swamp of Despair. Again, check them out if you want to read more!
Final Thoughts: Know Your Weakness, and Take Steps to Overcome It
I started this post by acknowledging my own weakness in starting new projects, and I recommend that everyone consider their own weaknesses too. Understanding whether starting or finishing is more difficult for you not only instantly alleviates some of the confusion and anxiety we have about our work, it’s the first step towards figuring out the solution.
Acknowledging that weakness openly is important too, so if you’re feeling bold, go ahead and post in the Comments whether you have Trouble Starting or Trouble Finishing! Either way, it’ll help keep you on track, and help others realize they’re not alone ;-)