Have you ever stared at a big project and felt a familiar, overwhelming feeling. Like a fluttering in your chest. You know, it feels like the entire mountain of work seems to be staring right back at you yelling out "Hey, start me! START ME!"

When that happens to me, I get paralyzed. It's not that I don't know where or how to start - it's just that I can't start. But I eventually get going, so I want to share an easier way to approach those big projects of yours.

There could be a number of reasons we can't get started - it could be too many ideas floating around in our heads OR it could be that it's a project we really don't want to do in the first place. This makes getting started feel impossibly daunting.

So instead of trying to tackle everything at once, focus on making steady, manageable progress.

Let's say you need to write a detailed TPS report (you have to write those too, don't you? 🤔) For a project like this, I can spend a good 16 hours fretting that I have to do it when it takes less than two hours to complete it.

​

Instead of thinking "I need to write this entire thing," you might try breaking it down into smaller pieces. Something like this:

• 30 minutes on Day 1: Create a basic outline with main sections
• 20 minutes on Day 2: Write just the introduction (even a rough one)
• 20 minutes on Day 3: Tackle one main section's key points
• 30 minutes on Day 4: Add supporting details to that section
• 15 minutes on Day 5: Review and polish that one section

So for that TPS report, you can split up a project or task that might be over 2 hours, into smaller, less intimidating chunks. Each chunk takes 30 minutes or less, and suddenly that big project feels more doable.

⚒️

Here are some ways to break down any project:

• Choose tasks that take 30 minutes or less
• Pick pieces that feel manageable, not just logically sized
• Give yourself permission to work in whatever order feels natural
• Keep track of completed steps (yes, even the tiny ones!)

Remember: Your project doesn't have to be overwhelming. It can be a series of small, deliberate steps forward, each one honoring your need for space to think and create.

Small steps add up to big progress.

Trust your pace. 🌱

What's your next small step? I'd love to hear what you are working on! Be sure to subscribe to the No More Lists newsletter for introvert-friendly, right-brain productivity and project management tips.