The outline you created.
The closet you tore through.
The book you started.
So many beginnings…without an end.
(Insert faceplant).
It’s so exciting when you get the burst of energy to get going on a project or task.
And so defeating when it drags on forever and it feels like there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
Here’s the thing.
It’s demoralizing to start something and not finish.
It’s a conscious and subconscious signal to your brain that you:
- can’t follow through
- don’t have what it takes
- won’t stay committed
Why do we abandon projects?
Starting a new project is exciting and sometimes simply the novelty is enough to get us going.
After some time goes by, the activity (or writing or lessons or relationship) becomes more challenging than we expected.
It takes more time or resources than we hoped, is difficult to figure out, or is dreadfully boring.
Your excitement dissipates.
You realize you aren’t sure about the next step…or even start questioning the point or value of the task.
So you think, “I’ll get back to it later,” as if the next time around it will be as effortless as you first imagined.
Procrastination, perfectionism, or fear are usual suspects that support your new block and add to your justified halt. (AKA: Excuses).
And as you continue to operate this way, this becomes your new normal. Your expectation. Sometimes even makes you think, “why should I start this when I know I won’t finish it?”
Yup. Totally demoralizing.
How do you get out of this stuckness?
Funny you should ask because I just happen to have three easy peasy tips up my sleeve. 😉
Number ONE: Break it down. What are the next steps to bring this project or task to completion? Like, even the little bitty ones. For example, if your goal is to organize your papers, how will you create folders? Where will you toss the ones you don’t need? What storage do you need for your archives? Do you need access to a scanner?
Really think it through from beginning to end.
I take that back.
Don’t just think it through, but Write. It Down.
Only when it’s visual can you start to make sense of how much effort and resources will be involved. This will help you set more realistic expectations (which is really important to following through!)
Number TWO: Plan it out. Take that beautifully detailed list of yours and plan out realistic timeframes for each of your steps. As in actually on your calendar. We tend to underestimate how long tasks or projects take so when there is no immediate gratification, we fall off our focus. The more realistic and planned you are, the more successful you will be.
Number THREE: Start and finish one task or project at a time. This one’s a doozy.Remember that demoralizing feeling? We want to replace that with feelings of success, achievement, and general kick-buttery.
Confidence Tip: Don’t start 3 or 5 or 10 projects at a time. Choose one. Focus on one. Plan one. And then….wait for it…Finish one! Then, move onto the next.
It is so much more motivating and inspiring to start and complete ONE project than to start 5 projects and have completed none of them.
In other words, do one or two things awesomely instead of 10 things mediocre.
And finally, (I guess this is a fourth tip), know right from the get-go that the last 20% of your effort will be the most challenging.
In fact, the last 20% may require 80% of your motivation.
It’s in that final lap where the finish line feels so far away and you’re exhausted from the 10 laps you’ve already put in.
Simply embracing that the last distance will be the toughest will strengthen your mental stamina.
I often get asked if it was difficult to write a book and I always say “No…well, until the last couple of chapters. Then it was painful.”
But I had a strong suspicion that would be the case, well before I got started.
Which simply put me in a more pragmatic mind-frame that I’d have to create extra energizing reinforcements for that last stretch like,
- Publicly announce my launch date to hold me accountable.
- Treat myself extra special for every 1,000 words I wrote.
- Block off more writing time than usual.
Completing what you started designs your feelings of value, contribution, and success – which impacts your results.
As you gain momentum from finishing one thing, funnel it into your next project and the one that follows that.
Soon you’ll be both unstoppable and confident about everything you undertake.
Put aside your self-doubt.
Work through the fear.
Embrace the process.
Most importantly, finish what you start.
I mean, if you’re into feeling valued and in control.
To getting more of the right things done,
P.S. I often like to leave with a challenge so you actually practice what you learn. So let me know in the comments ONE project you will start and finish. I’ll be waiting to hear from you!
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