Reflect and Nourish

With finals coming up, a lot of us are feeling the pressure of heavy assignments weighing on our backs. 

However, projects don’t have to be completed under excessive stress or strain. Keep reading to learn how to break up large projects into more manageable pieces.

1. Read all of the directions and determine the ultimate goal of the project.

Part of the reason why big projects can feel so daunting is that we feel uncertain of what is expected of us at first. If the project is an assignment for a class or work, carefully review all of the directions. If you have a question, be sure to ask your boss or instructor for clarification. 

In addition, you’ll want to think about the overall objective of the project and what you’ll want it to look like at the end. According to Indeed, thinking about the end of the project and then working backwards from there to determine the necessary steps can make it easier to figure out the project’s direction. 

2. Mark the due date on your calendar, and give yourself five minutes to start the project.

Put the due date of the project on your calendar so you can see how much time you have to complete the project. If you’re working on a self-paced project with no deadline, set your own deadline.

Then, start the project. Often, the hardest part is getting started. However, if you take just a few minutes to start brainstorming or basic research, you’ll likely be motivated to continue since you have already built momentum.

According to Sophia Sikowski’s Herzing University blog post, “How to Stay on Top of Your Assignments in College,” it’s best to start assignments as early as possible and create a plan for how to complete them to avoid last-minute stress. 

3. Break up the project into sections and assign one section for each day you have left to complete the project. 

Big projects can feel intimidating, but who said we have to power through them in one sitting? 

Breaking the project up into bite-size pieces each day will reduce your stress and make you feel much more under control. Plus, once you finish your day’s section, you’ll have more time to move on to other tasks or simply rest. 

According to Indeed, after identifying the goal and outline of a project, it’s a good idea to break up tasks into the smallest pieces possible. You can also consider completing the hardest tasks first so that the tasks get easier as you go along, or grouping similar tasks together to make them easier to complete.

4. Once you finish all sections, give yourself one day to review your work.

It’s a good idea to go over everything you’ve completed to make sure that all the parts are accurate, clean, and cohesive. Be sure to do this at least one day after you finish so that you can review the work with a fresh perspective.

According to Shona McCombes’ “Quick Guide to Proofreading,” | What, Why, and How to Proofread,” taking a break from your work for a day or two can help because you’ll be able to return to the work with fresh eyes. However, if you’re short on time, even taking a break for half an hour can help.

5. Have someone look over your work if necessary, and when you’re ready, submit it!

If the project is a paper or other written assignment, having someone proofread your work will help ensure you catch any last-minute grammar errors. 

After you and a trusted friend have carefully reviewed your work, congratulations! You successfully finished your project. 

While it’s not possible to eliminate the stress of a big project, following each of these steps will make the process feel much lighter.