Bethanie Durham, Associate Director at content performance and digital PR agency NORTH. Tackling big, tough projects at work can sometimes feel a little daunting. You’ve got a mountain to conquer and no matter how hard you throw yourself at it, it’s tricky to even make a dint.
We’ve all been there. But don’t worry, once you learn how to manage fatigue over the holidays, you can find the motivation you need to crack on with the task and reignite your passion. Here are some tips to help you do so:
Split up your project into small, achievable chunks
Working on one giant task can feel never-ending and there’s a good chance you’ll struggle to find a starting point. Instead, take it one step at a time by splitting your work into smaller, more manageable chunks.
Write down a list of mini tasks that make up your project and make your way through each item. Not only will you feel a sense of accomplishment every time you tick off a new task, your mapped out to-do list will help you see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Add dates to milestone tasks
Big projects usually come with far away deadlines. And knowing you won’t be finished until months and months from now is bound to cause a slug.
Adding dates to key milestones can alleviate fatigue because you’ll always have something to work towards. It’ll also give you a full overview of your progress along the way, which is particularly useful if you need to factor in things like budget and resource.
You may want to add these milestones to a calendar or chart to help you visualise your project. That way, you’ll feel more in control and ready to handle what’s ahead.
Change up your work environment
If you have the luxury of hybrid or remote working, try making the most of it and head to a place where you feel most productive, whether that’s a coffee shop, an office, or just your dining room table.
Mixing up where you work will help fight fatigue, especially if your project requires a stream of tasks that feel very similar to one another. What’s more, making your work environment enjoyable will make your task feel better too - so light the candle, buy the coffee and get started.
Don’t put off the hard parts
If there’s a particular part of the project that you’re dreading, don’t put it off till last. Having a looming cloud hanging over you is the last thing that’s going to make you feel productive.Instead, identify what’s putting you off and tackle it first. It may be tough, but once it’s over, you’ll start viewing the project in a completely new light.Easier said than done, you say? Well, that’s where our next point comes into play.
Just start
Sometimes, the scariest part of any project is putting pen to paper. We overthink tasks so much to the point where the build-up is worse than the doing.
When faced with a lengthy project, the best advice is to just start. It might sound obvious, but you’d be surprised at how easy it is to procrastinate.Your first action doesn’t need to be perfect - you can come back to it later. Just do something - ANYTHING - to get the ball rolling. Chances are when you’re deep into the task, fatigue will be long gone.
