5.22.2023 - Dose of Growth
Do you struggle to complete your projects on time?
Or are you the type to start a lot of projects that always seem to go unfinished?
You work on a project until you get bored, hoping that the same inspiration that got you started returns to help you finish it.
We understand this all too well and have found a solution that has been our secret to finishing unfinished projects.
The key is leveraging creative inspiration to get you going and self-imposed deadlines to help you finish.
In today’s dose of growth, you’ll learn how to finish projects without waiting for that elusive creative inspiration or motivation to strike.
Stay Focused with Self-Imposed Deadlines
Do you know about Parkinson’s Law?
Parkinson’s Law states that work expands to fill the allotted time.
And you can use Parkinson’s Law to your benefit by setting self-imposed deadlines.
In the absence of deadlines, we tend to harbor the idea that we have infinite time to work on a project.
This is why projects and tasks without deadlines often end up unfinished or stuck on your to-do list for months, even years.
Deadlines help us prioritize our tasks and effectively organize our workflow.
Consider setting your deadlines in days rather than weeks or months to increase the sense of seriousness and urgency subconsciously.
How Deadlines Drive Action
The crucial transition in our approach is using deadlines to catalyze action.
Setting deadlines can be a real game-changer if you often struggle to complete tasks or projects.
Deadlines push you to act promptly and can significantly cut down on procrastination
Make a task or project feel more concrete
Create or amplify a sense of urgency
Enhance your level of commitment
Help you plan and prioritize your time well in advance
However, it's crucial to approach deadline setting with realism and allow room for unexpected hurdles and delays in your project timeline.
Now, before you rush to set 24-hour deadlines for all your unfinished projects, ensure each project:
Has inherent meaning
Carries action-based importance
Contributes to something beyond you (serves the needs of others)
Has time set aside for exploration, research, and reflection
Tips for Setting Realistic Self-Imposed Deadlines
Now that we have established the value of deadlines let's dive into some strategies to help you set achievable deadlines:
Start Your Day Early: Kickstart your day as soon as possible to maximize productivity.
Batch Similar Tasks: Tackle similar tasks back-to-back to optimize your workflow.
Sequence Tasks Efficiently: Organize a project so that each part is shorter than the preceding one.
Give Yourself Time: Allow ideas to develop under low to moderate time pressure.
Be Realistic: Factor in time for unexpected delays and hurdles in your project timeline.
Share Your Deadline: Communicate your deadline to an accountability partner to stay on track.
Have a Contingency Plan: Be prepared with a backup plan if you miss your deadline.
Single Project Focus: Concentrate on one major daily project to ensure quality.
Establish Short-term Milestones: Create short-term goals to keep the motivation levels high.
Incorporating these strategies could transform your approach to project completion and significantly enhance your productivity.
It's all about learning to manage your time more effectively, reducing procrastination, and ultimately, becoming more efficient at completing tasks and projects.
Share your experiences, thoughts, and any questions you might have in the comments section below. We're all here to learn and grow together, and your insights could be the key to someone else's productivity breakthrough.
Remember, it's not just about becoming more efficient at completing tasks and projects, but about nurturing a growth mindset that empowers you to tackle challenges head-on.
