Wow, can't believe it's already June!  June is a time of transition for many as children get out of school for the summer and our routines and schedules change with fun summer plans and new projects.  This month's article is on ways to simplify and streamline our projects. Our next newsletter will focus on summer transitions.

Projects

Some to-dos on our lists are one and done type of tasks while others may require several actions or steps to complete.  The latter example officially becomes a:  

Project:
A task or planned program of work that requires a large amount of
time, effort, and planning to complete.
Encarta Dictionary

Projects might include coordinating events, cleaning out garages, taking on a new initiative. Examples can be endless. How about you?  Do you have a desired project in the works?  Or, maybe some existing projects that still need to be finished?

Sometimes, our projects can feel so complex or have piled up and we may feel overwhelmed making the task harder to get started.   Sometimes they may take us longer to complete than we anticipated.  Sometimes they may feel boring or tedious and we run out of steam along the way leaving the project uncompleted. 

Here are a few approaches that have worked well to finesse the bigger projects. 

  • Begin with a visualization of what your finished project looks like. It’s best to actually sketch it out or write down specific objectives of what needs to be accomplished.  This helps you be clear about what the finish line looks like.

  • Decide if your project is realistic? Avoid these three pitfalls: First is the avoiding the mindset ‘I can do it all’ which results in taking on too much at once. Do you really have the capacity to take this project on?  A second pitfall is not setting aside the time where the the project will be your scheduled priority.  Is there really time in your schedule?  A third pitfall is deciding to begin another project before finishing the first. Sometimes, we do this because the project is more interesting than finishing the one you have underway.  Or we feel stuck with working on the last bit.  

  • Break it down. Before you begin, brainstorm and write down all that is required to complete the project.  I like to break out the steps and actions into something that can be accomplished within 30 minutes or less.   When you break a project down, it’s easier to understand where to start and you can easily fit in time to take the next logical step rather than thinking you will wait until you have more time. Plus, it helps you get a better idea of how long the project will really take you.  

  • Create an enjoyable environment. What can you do to elevate your energy, mood and focus?  How can you create a more desirable space for working on your project.

  • Don’t forget the support! Support comes in many forms.  Identify which parts of the project are easier for you and which are more difficult.  Is there someone else you can ask for help or delegate to?  Build in encouragement and acknowledgement from others if that is what keeps you going.  Consider working with a coach who can help you navigate the process and help hold you accountable. 

We hope you find one or more of these strategies helpful for working on your next summer project.  

Be sure to stay tuned for our next blog where we focus on great tips for families and their summer transition. 

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR JUNE

TRY OUR SUMMER BOOK CLUB 
AND COACHING CIRCLE

Virtual Meetings on Wednesday Evenings,
June 12th - July 24th, 2019
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HONE YOUR TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS  IN THIS SELF PACED LEARNING LAB

Learn ADHD Friendly Time Management Skills and Strategies with a Daily Challenge and four Virtual Coaching Support.
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