When we have a big project on the horizon or a DIY project at home to finish, we try to build in accountability. Otherwise, we find ourselves staying up late for three nights in a row and run the risk of paint cans and bags from Home Depot staring at us (making us feel guilty). Over the years, we've racked up a few ways to build in accountability--and don't forget to weigh in with your own approach after the jump.
Getting Projects Done: Build In Accountability
- Start small and set a kitchen timer. A kitchen timer works well for two reasons. For those of us that have trouble staying focused, the sound of the kitchen timer clicking will remind you to keep at it when you start to get distracted. A timer is also a great form of accountability for folks that tend to be perfectionists. Instead of organizing for hours on end and losing track of time, set the timer for 30 minutes. Once it dings--you're done. Most folks who hyper-organize for hours on end run the risk of getting burnt out (and never return to the project) leaving the area unfinished. You're more likely to accomplish your goals if you start small and maintain.
- Enlist a friend. Find an accountability partner and make a date for a weekly check-in. Knowing that someone is going to make sure that you're following through with your tasks is a great way to stay on course.
- Tell friends what you're up to. We now have Facebook and Twitter to let our circle of friends in our daily activities. Once you tweet about an upcoming project or goal, friends are likely to check in with you the next time they see you. If there's a chance friends or colleagues will inquire about your objectives you'll be less likely to stall on projects.
- Mark your calendar. When we have a project due (or a self-imposed deadline), we'll mark it in our calendar. Next, we'll break the project down into smaller parts and insert those smaller tasks into our calendar as to-do items. Because we always want to be checking items off of our to-do list, we find that using a calendar as a form of accountability works well.
How do you build in accountability at work or home? Do you already incorporate our tips or do you have your own set of rules you follow?
Related Time Management Posts
- Roundup: Time Management Tips
- Getting Organized and What's Important
- How To: Start and Finish Projects, Just Say No
[Image from numb3r]
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I wish I could say I have perfected this, but I am in fact, still quite ADD about projects. Start one, stop midstream, go to another. Wait for the vision/inspiration to return to finish the first.
Recently I did a window seat/closet/bookcase for my granddaughter's nursery. Her mom is a teen, and remodeled the nursery for a senior project. Having a deadline outside of ourselves (the presentation day at school) helped me to get it together and finish my part and install the built-in units. Maddi did most of the work on the room with the help of her other adult mentor, and mine was a donated component.
I guess I would say involving someone else, to help demo, clean, paint, so you make an actual appt to get some aspect finished. If you can find a friend to work with you, then you them, it may be the reason to stick to a schedule you need.
view housefulloffur's profile
I got my living room in order by setting a date for a party one month ahead. I sent out a save-the-date email to my friends which locked me into that date and then set to work. I made a list of things I needed to accomplish by that date and broke it down into smaller tasks. Essentially I used the potential shame of having a party in a cluttered apartment as my motivation and it worked! I used shame...find out what motivates you.
Along the way I planned out my free time to get things done, did the 15 minute trick to make use of small blocks of time and to keep myself from getting overwhelmed, got a friend to help with some projects and also allowed myself a few cheats (like the two boxes of clutter that I just couldn't get to that got piled neatly in the corner).
view kenzilisa's profile
I'm the biggest procrastinator when it comes to projects! I start things, get in over my head, and then stop halfway through.
I recently started posting some of my projects on howidiy.com, hoping that it would encourage me to finish things. But yeah... still not going so well. I just need to get in there and ignore the possibility that things may not turn out as perfectly as planned.
My projects may look great so far... but if they're not finished that really doesn't matter.
view DIY Mike's profile
Having a party is a perfect excuse to clean. One month I had people over on a weekly basis and the apartment never looked so clean. As soon as I stopped, things went downhill. The timer, breaking the project into small tasks, writing them down in a calendar, and praising yourself on FB are all fantastic ideas that I'll be using more frequently with this little post reminder. Thanks!
view edava72's profile
Awesome...i'm not alone. I plan social gatherings to motivate myself.
view STYLeyes's profile
I definitely do the timer thing for small projects and cleaning. If I'm feeling strapped for time and give myself, say, 15 minutes to clean a room, I'm always amazed at how much I can get done.
view mollywtx's profile