Are you procrastinating about starting a project or getting back to a project that you put on hold? Many of us procratinate because we feel overwhelmed when we think about the enormity of the project. It makes us exhausted just to think about the amount of time and effort involved in taking on a big project. So, we put it off until another day. The problem is that the longer you put off some projects, the bigger they become. For example, that pile of papers to be filed in your office just gets higher every day.

When your know what needs to be done and you know how to get it done, consider the following techniques to get into action and stick with the project until the end:

• Envision the project done. How will you feel? Paint as vivid of a picture as you can in your mind. Where are you? What is going on around you (sights, smells, sounds)? Instead of thinking about everything you have to do and feeling overwhelmed, try thinking about the final outcome and the satisfaction and relief of having completed the project.
• Break the project into manageable chunks. You’ve probably heard the old joke that asks, “How do you eat an elephant?” The answer is “one bite at a time.” Create a list of all the tasks that need to get done to finish the project. And, schedule time to complete each task using a calendar. If you still feel overwhelmed, break the tasks down into even smaller chunks and schedule those. This planning activity will help you see that it is not only possible to get the project finished but in a shorter amount of time that you initially imagined.
• Acknowledge progress. To keep yourself motivated and moving forward toward the project’s end, remind yourself of all you’ve accomplished. Look back over the original task list and check off everything you’ve done. Establish milestones along the way (e.g., 50 percent complete) and reward yourself in some meaningful way when you complete each milestone.

Give these suggestions a try and let me know if any of them help you.