Is there a project you’ve been trying to start for months?
Perhaps you want to find a new job, pursue a new certification, or get your finances in order. Maybe you want to journal, learn a new skill, or declutter your home.
Finding the focus for a new project is challenging. It’s easy to get caught up in the daily whirlwind: household tasks, work requests, and digital distractions.
If you have a hard time getting started, here’s a strategy to try: commit to the most important project (MIP) for the next month.
Why One MIP
Limits bring focus. Focus means progress.
Your project will be on top of your existing obligations. You still have jobs to perform, classes to attend, or families to take care of. It’s important to be realistic with your time and energy.
Going from zero to one is the most difficult. You need all the focus you can muster to get started. It’s easier when your attention is dedicated to one thing at a time.
List the First Three Tasks
Your project will involve multiple tasks. For some people, it helps to make a plan all the way to the end. But for others, that level of planning is overwhelming. All you need to get started is the first three steps. The crucial thing is to start. You will focus on one thing at a time, and adjust your course along the way anyway.
Tasks should be an effort entirely within your control. This means you are focusing on the input: work that you can accomplish as long as you dedicate the time.
Start small at the beginning. If a task feels too big, break it into smaller ones, until it cannot be broken down any further.
Here are some MIP examples and the first three steps.
- If my MIP is to journal: buy a beautiful journal, put the journal next to the bed, and write down three things I’m grateful for at night.
- If my MIP is to save money: download my credit card statements, review my expenses, and learn how to set up automatic saving.
- If my MIP is to get a new job: update my resume, bookmark five job postings, and reach out to 3 people for advice.
Make a Plan to Work on Your MIP
It’s critical to develop a simple plan on how you will make progress. You will need time, physical energy, and mental headspace. Consider the following:
- When: Will you work on it first thing in the morning, during your lunch break, or at night after work? Think about your energy level.
- How long/frequent: Are you going to spend 10 minutes every day or 2 hours on the weekends?
- Where: Will you work on it in the office, at home, or at a coffee shop?
- What will you use: Are you going to use a piece of paper, a notebook, or your laptop? What other tools do you need?
- What resources will help: Can you get advice from people before you start? How about books or videos that will set you up for success?
- How to make the experience pleasant: What are ways you can make the process more enjoyable so that you will look forward to doing the work?
Building on the three examples from earlier:
“My MIP next month is to journal. Tomorrow I will go to a bookstore near my office and buy the most beautiful journal. I will put a pen and the journal next to my bed. Before I go to bed each evening, I will write down three things I’m grateful for and three things I can do better the next day. I will also read some other people’s journals and see what I can learn from them. Every week I will review my journal and be thankful for the experience from this week.”
“My MIP next month is save more money for an upcoming trip in 6 months. I will work on this every Sunday afternoon for at least 30 minutes. To start, I will log on to my online banking portal and download my credit card statements this weekend. Over the next few weekends, I will review my expenses and identify what I can cut back on. Lastly, I will research how to set up automatic saving so I put aside at least $300 more each month into a dedicated savings account. After each 30 minute session, I will cook a nice dinner to celebrate.”
“My MIP next month is to update my resume. I will spend at least an hour every Saturday morning. I will refresh my resume so it matches with the jobs I am applying for. I will edit and iterate until it looks as good as it can be. I will send my resume to three friends for their feedback. Once I’m done, I will treat my friends to dinner and we will have some fun.”
Once you have a specific MIP and a plan, it’s time to get to work!