Lesser-known facts about the father of modern science
If you’re clear about what you want then one of the best things to do is try to envision and document as clearly as possible what the goal is.
Plan a project out. Some might take weeks. If you don’t know how long it will take, then time can drag on. You also won’t know if the project is worth doing.
Instead of imagining vaguely what the desired outcome is, get serious and specific about it. Set SMART goals. These are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely.
For example, if you’re doing a landscape painting of nature, you might want to decide whether it’s a woods or ocean view.
Did you ever finish fixing that roof rack? Does the garage need refurbishment? Have you been trying to finish that painting for a while? These are all projects, and there’s a science developed to help manage them called (yes, you guessed it) project management.
The main reason that things don’t get done, take three times as long as they should, or end up going way over budget is because of poor project management practice. To learn some of the most useful tips for getting virtually any project past the line, on budget, and on time, click through this gallery.
Project planning isn’t just a timeline–it includes everything that might be relevant to the project down the line. You might, for example, want to plan by asking around for some advice.
Whatever you’re deciding to do in terms of your project, you should carefully analyze the cost-benefit. This means working out whether it’s worth your time to do it yourself. If you’re paid minimum wage, for instance, then it might be worth painting the fence yourself.
Although you plan the entire project ahead, you should also be aware that things will likely change. For instance, a rainy day can delay an outdoors project.
Where collaboration is possible, don't feel like you have to take everything on yourself. Delegate tasks!
Try to be unbiased and accurate in your estimation of the cost and time it will take to complete a project. The most common thing is that people (wishfully) underestimate these factors.
This is when projects become stressful to finish and sometimes don’t get finished at all. As things get more expensive and time keeps rolling on, it gets a little bit disheartening.
If there’s a project being done and you have the option to acquire all the supplies that you will need long before, then it’s usually the best thing to do.
Make a list. What do you need? How much will it cost? While you have pen to paper, start mapping out a project timeline.
Plan for the worst and hope for the best. You might have planned to completely paint the garage in your two-week holiday from work, but what if it rains for seven days?
Set a start date for the project. It’s all good and well to have a great plan drawn up, but often the plans are pushed forward over and over again.
This is why your plan needs to be dynamic. You will need to be able to roll with the punches and understand that things change and plans change.
The previous point is the difference between feeling miserable and beaten down by underperformance or feeling satisfied that progress is being made even though unpredictable circumstances presented themselves.
Instead of viewing every setback as a failure, treat it as an opportunity to learn.
This is often the case in homes where a lot of time, money, effort, and energy are wasted.
The sunk cost fallacy is "a greater tendency to continue an endeavor once an investment in money, effort or time has been made." It’s our wanting to “finish the job” even when finishing the job makes no sense any longer.
Perfectionism is something that usually holds people back. It’s why a project becomes five times as long as it ought to be. It’s not to be expected or strived for.
Finishing any project that would require you apply yourself suggests that it requires effort. Don’t forget to reward yourself for the effort you apply.
A very difficult task to come to terms with is canceling a project once it already begins. Behavioral economics has a term for the difficulty we experience with cutting our losses: the sunk cost fallacy.
Set yourself limits in terms of the time and energy you spend as well as the amount of money. It’s easy to go over your budget. It’s also easy to overextend yourself at the beginning of a project.
We might realize that the project we took on to, for example, complete the task of fixing a leak is much more complicated than we thought. But by then we might be in deep, and reluctant to contact a professional.
If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask for it. Many DIY projects end in injury, arguments, or frustration because someone insists on carrying on.
Sources: (Wrike)
See also: The most popular hobby ideas for seniors
Get real about strengths and weaknesses. What mistakes did you make in the past with projects? Did you quit for three months? How can you avoid that happening again in the future?
Scheduling time to work on a project should be done task by task. Multitasking is to be avoided at all costs because it reduces productivity hugely.
Expert tips to finish any project
How to get it over the line
LIFESTYLE Diy
Did you ever finish fixing that roof rack? Does the garage need refurbishment? Have you been trying to finish that painting for a while? These are all projects, and there’s a science developed to help manage them called (yes, you guessed it) project management.
The main reason that things don’t get done, take three times as long as they should, or end up going way over budget is because of poor project management practice. To learn some of the most useful tips for getting virtually any project past the line, on budget, and on time, click through this gallery.