Do you want to get back on track with a project that’s stalled?
Are you looking for tips on how to move your work forward without being overwhelmed?
It’s a scene that plays out constantly: you’ve been steadily working on a project for several months.
All of a sudden, the unthinkable happens: the project is put on hold.
You immediately stop working on the project and turn your attention to something else.
Several weeks later, you receive an email saying the project has been reinstated.
You’ve got to finish the project as soon as possible.
As frustrating as this situation may be, you must put your head down and complete the project.
But what’s the key to finishing your work? You’ve got to keep your cool and make a solid plan…
In this post, you’ll find some key tips to help you get back on schedule after a delay.
Live in the present.
You could spend weeks wistfully reflecting on the time that has passed since your project was put on hold.
All those lost minutes, hours, and days. Not to mention all those missed opportunities. Sigh…
Unfortunately, there’s not much benefit to living this way. You can’t change the past.
And you can’t get that time back, no matter what. What you can do is make use of the time available to you, right now.
Of course, this isn’t to say you can’t be frustrated, annoyed, upset, or disappointed by the delay.
After all, you’re only human! Do what you need to do to let off some steam.
Vent your frustrations to a friend, go for a run, punch a pillow, take a long walk, or write in your journal.
You can take action after you’ve composed yourself.
Prioritize tasks.
You may be chomping at the bit to get back on schedule right away. However, it’s worth taking time to review tasks and prioritize your workflow.
Doing so will ensure you won’t spin your wheels when you start work. You’ll slowly, yet steadily reach your project goal(s).
Take a moment to dust off old project notes and carefully review where things stand.
You’ll then want to pull out your calendar and to-do list so you can prioritize future tasks.
Starting with your notes, ask yourself the following questions:
- Which three tasks must I complete today?
- Which three tasks must I complete tomorrow?
- Which three tasks must I complete the day after that?
- Which tasks must I complete this week?
- Which tasks must I complete next week?
Now, you may be tempted to say all of your tasks are important.
At this point in time, you need to identify which tasks should be completed now, versus later.
Lest you forget, you’ll be incorporating this delayed work into your current schedule and workload.
Think carefully about which tasks must be prioritized and which must be pushed back to a later date.
Review your project timelines and notes for the coming days and weeks.
You’ll want to make any necessary adjustments and refinements as soon as possible.
Work steadily and carefully.
Finish that report, hold a marketing meeting, and produce a mock-up before 10 A.M.? Sounds exhausting, doesn’t it?
While the original project delay was inevitable, you don’t have to work double-time to make up for the interruption.
Take care to control your work pace.
The steadier and more reasonable the pace, the more likely it is you’ll be able to get things done.
It is possible to complete tasks one after the other, without burning yourself out.
Don’t forget: working in a slap-dash fashion may inadvertently waste valuable time and energy.
Keep things simple while you work. Focus your mind, and work with care.
How about you? How are you going to go about getting back on track in your work? Join the conversation and leave a comment below!
What great advice! I never heard or thought of the strategy of identifying the next three to-dos. This is a brilliant idea because it breaks down the tasks into chunks and makes everything more doable. Thanks for sharing this!