Don’t you love it when things are new and exciting? Whether it is a new project, goal, study or just a job that you really have to get done sometimes it can be hard following things through right to the end.
Remember all those weeks ago how I said I needed to clean out my walk in wardrobe. It’s still not done.
Our garden beds? The bases are roughly put together but there is nothing growing there yet.
At the same time there are plenty of things I am ticking off my list, my first new bit of study, check. New business plans, check…although that is a work in progress, I’ve broken it down in to smaller manageable chunks so I don’t overwhelm myself.
Am I a big believer in finishing what you start? Yes and no. If it’s important to you and your loved ones then yes it is important not to wander off and investigate shiny, sparkly new things when the going gets tough or we get a bit bored. That’s when we need to give ourselves a kick in the bum and push through to the end.
However, there are times when you know that you have embarked on the wrong path. Something we thought to be the right thing at the time may actually turn out to be a bad fit. That’s cool, in those sorts of situations it’s important to be able to walk away without feeling like a failure. It’s better to own it than continue down the wrong path for you just to save face.
Whilst cleaning out my wardrobe is not exactly life changing, it was enough to get me thinking about finishing things you start and how to make it to the end when you lose momentum.
Make time in your diary. This is something important, make appointments with yourself to get it done. Make this time a priority and whenever possible avoid scheduling in another commitment in its place.
Remove distractions. If it’s study related or you need to use the computer then turn of your internet or install a site blocker to help stop you procrastinating. Likewise don’t let other tasks distract you; we are making this one your focus during your ‘appointment’ with yourself.
Break it down in to smaller tasks. Sometimes it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by something we have to do or want to do and we can’t quite visualise the end point. Just the same as when we set goals in the first place, break what needs to be done in to smaller chunks. Allocate a specific time block to completing each task.
Stop the sabotage. Unfortunately saboteurs are part of life. Sometimes we do it to ourselves but there can be other people in our lives who consciously or unconsciously work against us to try and stop us achieving our goals. If you have people like that in your life it might be time to take a step back from them a little.
Be honest with yourself. Face up to the fact that there is something or things that you need to finish. Apply a bit of Nike mentality, give yourself some tough love, get off your ass Just Do It, stop sitting and thinking about it.
Add some entertainment. Got a million windows or a long, long hallway like I do. Getting those big spring cleaning jobs done can be quite an undertaking and means that they often fall off the end of the to do list. Turn on some music and it will be so much easier. Likewise, indulge in some day time TV while you fold the washing or complete some other task that doesn’t require a whole lot of brain engagement.
Reward yourself. Sometimes completing what you set out to do is reward enough but with some things we need a little more incentive to get us across the finish line. Make your reward fit the size of the task you need to complete, I don’t think that I can request diamonds in exchange for getting my wardrobe sorted out!
Have you got something that you want to finish off that is nagging at you? Use these steps to get it done, it is such a cleansing feeling.
Want to read more about setting goals and achieving them? You can find all my weekly goals posts together here.
Tatum xx