Every Spring, I have this conversation with my husband, “We should get ____ done this summer. Oh, and what do you think about doing _____?” “Sure. That’s a good idea. Yeah. We can do that.” And then I have the same conversation around twenty more times filling in those blanks with something different each time. We also committed to making great family memories this summer with our children and with him working twelve hour days, six days a week, it limits the amount of time he has to do any projects. So, what are the keys to project planning and completion? Well, I’m here to tell you some of the secrets…and then I’m going to actually do them myself!
How to Implement Project Planning
- Make a List—
Sit down and write out all of the projects you’d like to complete this season. I am so guilty of not doing this! This is the step of project planning that everything else hinges on, so don’t skip it! I think I’ll store it all in my brain, but when my husband is home and maybe needs a project to work on, I can’t remember what I wanted done!
I am also so, so guilty of having all of these grandiose ideas in my brain, but then losing steam when it actually comes to executing…well, anything! Sometimes, my lack of ambition makes me cringe! Make a master list of projects that you would like to get done. I like to do this room by room so as not to miss anything.
- Organize Your List—
Once you have written everything down, examine the list to see which projects you can complete by yourself, and which things you will need your husband’s help with completing. Don’t be afraid to take on projects! You can learn how to do almost anything on YouTube! You just need a little courage to get started with some power tools.
Make a separate list of projects you need your husband’s help for. It really should be shorter than most women think it should be!
A long time ago, I decided that I didn’t want to be helpless if something happened to my husband so I started taking care of things around the house on my own. I replaced a sink, took out cupboards, busted out plaster and lathes, built and installed a wall, fixed toilets, built cupboards and chairs, laid flooring including carpet, and stripped, refinished and painted too many surfaces to count. Of course, while my husband was gone, both of our vehicles broke down, so I repaired both of them. Ladies, if you can raise human beings, you can learn how to do almost anything! But do stay safe! Do not undertake something that could cause you harm from doing it by yourself! Your husband does not need you to get hurt over something he could have helped with or done for you!
- Prioritize—
Once you have written down everything that needs to get done on two separate lists, prioritize the list. You know there is no way on this Earth that you will be able to complete everything on your list during the summer. Unless that’s just me! So, prioritize the outdoor projects that you can’t work on in the fall, winter and spring. Of course, not everyone lives with nine months of winter so you can probably get more done than I can, but you get the point!
If you have your projects prioritized and broken down into smaller steps, it makes it easier to map out your time. For example, if you need to paint something, you can plan to do that right away in the morning. Then start the first step of the next priority while the paint is drying. I know this seems basic, but sometimes, we either overcomplicate things, or we think something is so simple that we don’t have to map out our plan of action. Map it out!
- Break it Down—
Take the top priority project and if it’s a large project, break it down into smaller steps that you can easily add into your schedule. What parts of the project can your children help with? Write them down and divvy them up. Most children want to help with projects. Assign them age-appropriate tasks. This way, they help with the project and can take pride in that!
One of the best strategies to complete a project with children is to spend some time with your child before you start work on your project and communicate with him or her ahead of time. If you tell your young child, “I can spend 30 minutes playing with you and then I need to work for 30 minutes.” If you fill your child’s cup first, you’ll be able to get more done in the long-run.
- Get Motivated—
What motivates you? For me, I love to surprise someone—either my husband or my children, depending on the project—with a job finished! Giving myself a deadline can be motivating for me as well. And NOTHING motivates me more than having people I’ve never had over. I really need to just invite people over more often because I become very focused on completing projects if I know people, other than those who live in my home, will see them! Yes, it’s ridiculous. I should focus on making my home nicer for those who live with me, not those who do not! Totally backwards, I know. I’m working on that!
So, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Taking a little time before starting a big project to budget your time is half the battle of getting things done and the first step in project planning. It will help you not only to be more productive, but consequently, to have a little extra time to have fun with your family!
RElated: Plan a Great Summer Break
