Whenever you start something, you’re filled with interest and anticipation. You wonder how the project or event is going to progress. You think about how hard you’ll work on it. But then one day, the project doesn’t seem as important as you thought.
When this happens, your cherished goal loses its glow. Plus, you now have some other things you need to work on. Gradually, the project you were all excited about gets put on the back burner. Before you know it, months have gone by and you never seem to have the time or energy to go back and finish it.
Would you like to change this recurring sequence of events? Imagine your feelings of pride and accomplishment as you begin to finish your projects – one after the other. But how can you turn things around to where you can consistently complete your projects?
Try these strategies to help you finish what you start:
1. Prioritize Before you jump in and begin something, ask yourself whether it’s really important. One key to finishing what you start is to not begin something that has little relevance in your life.
2. Assess timing Ask yourself, “Is this the right time to start something new?” Any other big things going on in your life will take time away from new projects you hope to do
3. Commit yourself After determining that a project is important enough to start and it’s the right time, commit to it. When you make this type of commitment, write out exactly what you plan to do. Write down each step. Plan to finish all steps within a time frame that’s acceptable to you. Plan your project and then go forward with each step according to your plan.
4. Evaluate your energy level If you’re working and taking care of yourself and family, everything else you do is extra. Assess if your energy reserves are built up enough to take on another project and see it through to the end.
5. Consider your end result If you finish the project, how will it affect your life? Will your everyday life be better? Will it be mostly unchanged? Will you feel a sense of pride and completion? Spend some time reflecting on the experience of finishing the project.
6. Be realistic Be honest with yourself about all of the above considerations. The more realistic you are when making the decision to start something new, the more likely you are to finish the task.
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- Finishing what you start can be a real challenge, but being detailed in your planning will help. Be realistic about the project before beginning any new endeavor.
- If you think proactively, you’ll be much more likely to finish projects once you decide to start them. And then, every project you begin will enhance your life rather than detract from it.
