Too many projects?

[ChadTower]

I carry way too many projects at once... various types, some on the house, some on games, some on software, etc etc... I need to figure out how to avoid doing this.  They all end up moving forward at a slow snail's pace and none ever get finished.

Anyone else in this boat?  I'd like to find a good way out of it and how to avoid it in the future.

[CCM]

I'm in the same boat.  I don't think there is anyway out of it.

[shardian]

I do the same thing. The best way to streamline is to prioritize, then just ditch some projects if you can. I sold off all of my diyprojector stuff except for one small project. I also sold off a bunch of arcade related project stuff so I would just have what is in my garage. Finally, even though it is painful, turn down new projects if you have to justify them, or have to think about them. Do you really need that junker arcade cabinet? The only exception is a free machine. Those shouldn't ever be turned down.


My workplace also has put me in the same boat. All the other designers get one large project to work on. I am like the utility guy, I get handed all the small/quick projects (that never turn out to be small or quick), along with a bunch of miscellaneous changes/calculations. It gets to where I have trouble even knowing what projects I have worked on, and what exactly I have done to them.

[ChadTower]

My workplace also has put me in the same boat. All the other designers get one large project to work on. I am like the utility guy, I get handed all the small/quick projects (that never turn out to be small or quick), along with a bunch of miscellaneous changes/calculations. It gets to where I have trouble even knowing what projects I have worked on, and what exactly I have done to them.

Same here... 75 parallel projects going on all at once, just a function of my job.

[Jouster]

It's simple really...just crack the time-space continuum thing and you've got it.

Happy to help. 

Jouster

[Chris G]

I've gotten tired of being in this situation recently, so I just wrote everything down on a big list and categorized everything High, Medium, Low priority.  As often as possible, I force myself to devote some time to one of the High priority items.  If I don't have a lot of time on a given day, maybe I try to knock off one of the Med or Low ones if it's quick.  Seems to be working.  You just have to commit to it instead of just feeling overwhelmed and turning on the TV instead.  The list will never end, of course, but at least you'll make progress.

[leapinlew]

I carry way too many projects at once... various types, some on the house, some on games, some on software, etc etc... I need to figure out how to avoid doing this.  They all end up moving forward at a slow snail's pace and none ever get finished.

Anyone else in this boat?  I'd like to find a good way out of it and how to avoid it in the future.

Stop, drop and focus on one. Thats what I have to do.

[SirPeale]

Concentrate on *one* project and finish it.  Then move on to the next one.

[shardian]

My BIG fault is that by the time a project comes down to the nit-picky final touches, I am so bored/sick of it I don't feel like finishing it the way it needs to be. For example, in my bathroom renovation I never put down the second coat of caulking around the tub. It was fully functional, I was sick of working on it after months and months, and the wife was several months pregnant.

[ChadTower]

I have a tendency to take on projects I don't yet have all of the skills for... so I have to learn half or most of the skills necessary in the process.  I don't enjoy doing what I can already do.  As a result, even a mostly simple project can take quite a while soemtimes, because the learning curve has to be satisfied.

[mccoy178]

My BIG fault is that by the time a project comes down to the nit-picky final touches, I am so bored/sick of it I don't feel like finishing it the way it needs to be. For example, in my bathroom renovation I never put down the second coat of caulking around the tub. It was fully functional, I was sick of working on it after months and months, and the wife was several months pregnant.

Speaking of pregnant, the wife and I just had a newborn and over the past two weeks, I have been a machine on getting all those odds and ends projects done.  Go over to the PA forum and see.  I've done as much work on that jukebox in the past week than it would've taken me two months in the past.  I've also been getting all the home projects caught up as well, i.e. cleaning the office, finishing trim work, finally getting to those annoying little tasks, etc....  The kid has been great at getting me on focus.

[shardian]

My BIG fault is that by the time a project comes down to the nit-picky final touches, I am so bored/sick of it I don't feel like finishing it the way it needs to be. For example, in my bathroom renovation I never put down the second coat of caulking around the tub. It was fully functional, I was sick of working on it after months and months, and the wife was several months pregnant.

Speaking of pregnant, the wife and I just had a newborn and over the past two weeks, I have been a machine on getting all those odds and ends projects done.  Go over to the PA forum and see.  I've done as much work on that jukebox in the past week than it would've taken me two months in the past.  I've also been getting all the home projects caught up as well, i.e. cleaning the office, finishing trim work, finally getting to those annoying little tasks, etc....  The kid has been great at getting me on focus.

Congrats!

[ArcadeMaze]

X

[Wade]

I have the same problem, but occasionally I get so sick of non-work related projects that I will bust ass and knock some out, and I might consider alternatives for some projects (like just ditching some game projects if I have too many in the queue).  It's very important to prioritize, and if some things are starting to cause stress, it might be time to offload them completely (like ditch some games, or hire someone to do house repairs).

We had a baby 4 months ago and that has made it really difficult to make progress, though I did get a lot of house projects wrapped up before she arrived.  I only have 2 larger house projects right now, and I'm working hard to wrap one up and the other is in the basement (new gameroom) so it doesn't matter too much if it has to get pushed back.  I have car and game projects and they are all low priority, as the sportscar can sit indefinitely really, as can the games.

Ideally, I'll knock out the larger house projects, then I can get back to the lower priority smaller, occasional house project, and the video game projects.  Those are the types of things I really enjoy working on (not just at home, but at work too) because I don't like to have things going on for MONTHS.  Quick-wins are better for my attitude and keeping myself motivated, there's a point with any large project that I just wish it were over.  I like the feeling of forward motion.

I thought I had no time before, now I really know what it means to have no spare time.  I'm lucky to get an hour after the baby goes to bed.

Wade

[RayB]

I have this problem.
Part of the solution is outsourcing the crap to someone else. Know when to get help.

Also, email, forums, IM, are all terribly intrusive and unproductive uses of time. (Yes I am guilty of these so, don't take offense)

[SteveJ34]

Yes, where does this cruise ship sale from that we are all on, ie: too many projects....

My work life is similar to CT in that I have many that I manage and oversee, some long term, some short term that are never ending.

I did decide as recent BST posts would indicate, to focus on the homefront projects which is essentially a remodel from bottom to top (2 story).

I work all week busting my brain and then some evenings and pretty much every weekend of late working my back.....I do not complain....rather, i enjoy the hand and muscle work as a compliment or offset to the brain cycles I expend in bringing home the bacon.

For home projects, I am guilty of getting things to 90 percent there and then moving on so I have refocused to bring components to completeness before starting new.

Back burner those projects that are of less importance or do not bring you as much satisfaction in the short term....you can always revive them later.

Work to complete the remainder in an organized fashion, make a list, knock a piece out at a time.

Easy to say, harder to do.....we are all in the same boat I am sure

[Raleigh]

These days I separate projects into personal projects (those benefiting mainly myself) and life projects (those benefiting family, friends...).

My father passed away a few years ago and I was left all of his projects.  I doubt anyone here or anyone you know to have as many projects as my father, but that is not too significant.  What I quickly realized was that I personally had so many projects myself (a full basement of computer and arcade items) that if god forbid I passed away someone would look at my collection and either throw away or give away all of my stuff.  I quickly reduced my project load down to future musts and even then I have found myself selling and rebuying certain projects because if I can't get too it in the next 4 months I just as well sell and buy again when I'm ready.

Projects are great, but don't over prioritize personal projects and don't let them add stress to your life, life is too short, shorter than one may realize.

[Bones]

Same here. So many things going on at once and I keep taking on new stuff. I have 6 unfinished rockets, an unfinished game machine, an unfinished launch controller, an unfinished online rocket shop, 2 unfinished TI games, an unfinished garage storage system..... The list goes on.

[tommy]

Chad, maybe poor planning along with not knowing exactly what you want, along with not having alot of time could be your answer. 

Remind me not to set you up as my store manager.