With spring around the corner, we often become motivated to make certain changes and take on new projects. Maybe we model our motivation from the changes taking place in nature: New growth, new life, and new beginnings. The changes we choose to make are usually self-determined and are designed to bring us an increase in well being.
Sometimes however, we seem to identify so many things that we want to change that we can become overwhelmed, end up procrastinating and end up not getting around to doing it. I can remember telling myself last year that one of the things I would do is to clean out the basement but never actually got around to doing it… This year however, I will follow a few simple tips that will make it easier to follow through with my projects.
The first thing I will do it keep it simple. If I am flooded by different things I would like to do (build a patio, change the doors and windows, get new furniture for the living room, etc.), I will choose just one and concentrate on that one first. Then, I will write down exactly what it is I wish to achieve (“clean basement”) and how I will achieve it (sort out what I will throw out, keep, give away, make more space, organize, etc. The act of clearly writing down what it is you want to achieve is the first step towards attaining it. This allows you to document and organize your thoughts in a precise way that makes it clear what course of action is necessary to attain your goal.
Then, I will keep this piece of paper that I have documented the what and how of my goal in an area that I can see every day. This constant reminder will help me focus on working on tasks involved in achieving the goal I have set for myself.
The most important tip in starting any project towards attaining a goal can be summed up in Nike’s trademark Just do it! Therefore, if you need a little help following through with your spring projects, all you need to remember is to simplify, document, and do it!