Do You Need to Tackle a Large Task or Project?

Read time:  approximately 3 minutes

Is tackling a large task or project looming in your future?

 

No matter how diligent you are about taking care of the little things, at some point, you will find yourself facing a large, overwhelming task.   

If avoiding the task is not the answer, and facing the task makes you want to run screaming into the night, how can you jump the hurtle, cross the finish line, and knock the task off your to-do list?

 

After my stove fire, I was certain the stove was wrecked. 

 

Unfortunately (fortunately?)  for me, Brian turned one of the knobs and discovered the stove was still in working condition.  At that point I had a dilemma;  Could I truly ditch a perfectly functioning, but now truly ugly stove, without at least attempting to save it?  Cleaning it was going to take an enormous commitment of both time and energy. 

I had to try.    

 

If there is a large, overwhelming task or project that you dread starting, maybe what you need is simply a good strategy to motivate you.

 

As I worked, and began making progress, I realized that the way I had approached cleaning the stove provided a great strategy for dealing with any large project or task.

 

Choose a starting date and time

 

Sometimes a task is so overwhelming that it is just easier to continue ignoring the situation.  When you are facing that kind of a task, set a drop-dead time to start.

Setting a date and time provides some kind of weird incentive.  It’s like making an appointment with yourself and making the decision not to break that commitment.  Subconsciously you begin mentally preparing.    

My drop-dead start date was a Saturday.  I intentionally blocked off the day on my calendar just like I would for any important event.    

 

Decide what tools you need

 

 

Your large task may require purchasing or locating necessary items that will allow you to proceed unhindered.

Starting a project only to have to stop and search endlessly for some tool or supply is very frustrating.

It’s kind of like starting to make cookies only to discover that there is no flour in the pantry.  It’s disheartening and can grind the whole process to a halt. 

Setting my date freed my mind to focus on the best way to approach cleaning the stove.  My primary tools were baking soda, vinegar and a Pampered Chef plastic pan scraper as my supplies.     

 

Remain laser focused

 

Starting a large project or task is easy.  Remaining focused is where things tend to go south.  As much as possible, remain completely focused  on the designated task.  There may be other peripheral stuff happening that can’t be ignored (like meals) but once you start, make returning to the task your main goal.     

Keep distractions to a minimum as much as possible.    

As Saturday progressed, I stopped to make meals but returned to chipping away at the stove as quickly as possible. 

 

 

Focus on one small area at a time.

 

No matter how large a project is, it can be broken down into bite size pieces.

Remember how you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

Four glasses at a time can be carried from a messy living room.

Three items from a pile of laundry can be folded.

One tiny area of a stove can be cleaned at a time.

Making progress one small area at a time feeds a sense of accomplishment.

 

 

Allow yourself to take a break

 

Little things often become large things because the task is so distasteful.  Allow yourself to take a break.  Knocking out the task is the goal, but you don’t want to burn yourself out in the process.   

If the whole thing starts to wear you out mentally or physically, walk away for a bit.  Take a break.  However, before you take a break, set a time when you plan to resume.

 

Focus on the progress

 

I remember a friend telling me that when her family went on long trips, her dad always had them focus on how far they had already travelled instead of how much of the trip was left.

That was great advice for a trip, and it is great advice when tackling any large project or task. 

Hopefully, focusing on how much you have accomplished will provide much needed motivation to continue.

 

At some point, decide it is good enough

 

Seeing progress is exciting.  It is motivation to continue.  Sometimes that motivation can run amuck, and perfection mentality kicks in. 

It could always be better.  So, at some point, tell yourself it’s good enough.

When my stove actually looked better than it did before the fire, I was tempted to keep cleaning.  Because suddenly I could see all the tiny details that would make it look even better. 

But it was late, I was tired, and I had accomplished the mission of saving the stove.

It was good enough.  Not perfect, but good enough.

 

The next time you are facing a large task or project that threatens to overwhelm you, take a deep breath, lay out your strategy and get started!

 

 

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