“Accountability Corner – Step 3 – Your Weekly Project Plan” by Joan Y. Edwards

This is the third post in the Accountability Corner series.

WHAT PROJECT(S) DO YOU WANT TO COMPLETE?

You decide the project you want to complete. You are willing to promise yourself that you will do it. You will finish it. Break it into five steps to completion. It’s possible that you might need to take five hours or five weeks to complete it. Promise to spend a certain number of hours on your project…one, two, three, four, or more hours. Or you can do 5 smaller projects that you can complete one each day.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE YOU TO COMPLETE IT?

Ones that you can complete in 2 hours  or spend 2 hours each day working on a project for a certain number of days.  You decide what you’re going to hold yourself accountable for completion each day or each week.

Out of 7 days, I think focusing on 4-5 days is a good idea. I tried it out this week. I worked 4 hours Monday, Tuesday,  and 8 hours Wednesday. I discovered I was putting too much pressure on myself to complete it. So I took a break on Thursday. I resumed on Friday, and even worked about 3 hours on Saturday. If necessary, take one day off, and resume the next day.  Don’t stop. Don’t give up. Take essential “mental health” breaks. But keep on going.

WHAT TOOLS AND SUPPLIES Will You Need to Do It?

Will you need a special tool or certain supplies to do your project? Get them and put them in your special area where you plan to work on your project.

WHEN DO YOU WANT TO FINISH IT?

You decide when you want to complete your project. You decide how many hours you want to work on the project…I decided 4 hours each day for an illustration for one of my new children’s books that I plan to self-publish. It may take me several weeks to complete it. I’ve never timed my doing an illustration. So this is a test run for me. I do have part of a draft illustration done.

CHECK IN AND BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU’VE COMPLETED. MAKE CHANGES TO YOUR PLAN FOR THE FOLLOWING WEEK OR THE NEXT PROJECT.

Everyone is different. The plan that works for the man down the street might not work for you. What works for me, might not work for you. You know yourself. Gear this plan to suit you and help you complete your project.

You don’t have to write everything down like I have listed below. However, I believe you have to put these thoughts through your mind in order to accomplish what you want to complete.

Week 1

Saturday or Sunday Or Weeks before you begin
Goal Setting Day
Make a list of unfinished projects you would like to complete.
Choose the one on which you want to focus your attention this week.
Break the project into five steps:

Remember:  “Do it and the energy will come.”
Start and the energy (excitement, knowledge, skills, resources, and stick-to-it-ness) you need will come to help you finish.

Day 1 Monday

What to accomplish?
Needed tools and supplies?
Steps to take?
How many hours?
Reward?
I promise I will do everything in
my power to accomplish this.
Sign your name.
Date Work Is Done
Time in-Time out.
Initial

Day 2 Tuesday

Date
What to accomplish?
Needed tools and supplies?
Steps to take?
How many hours?
Small Reward?
I promise I will do everything in
my power to accomplish this.
Sign your name.
Date Work Is Done
Time in-Time out.
Initial

Day 3 Wednesday

What to accomplish?
Needed tools and supplies?
Steps to take?
How many hours?
Small Reward?
I promise I will do everything in
my power to accomplish this.
Sign your name.
Date Work Is Done
Time in-Time out.
Initial

Day 4 Thursday

What to accomplish?
Needed tools and supplies?
Steps to take?
How many hours?
Small Reward?
I promise I will do everything in
my power to accomplish this.
Sign your name.
Date Work Is Done
Time in-Time out.
Initial

Day 5 Friday

What to accomplish?
Needed tools and supplies?
Steps to take?
How many hours?
Big Reward?
I promise I will do everything in
my power to accomplish this.
Sign your name.
Date Work Is Done
Time in-Time out.
Initial

Need more time.
Amend your plan to reflect the changes necessary to complete your project.
Initial your approval of the changes.
Be kind to yourself. But keep working on it. Perhaps one day you might work longer and take a day off. You decide.

Remember: Do it and the energy will come. Start and the energy (excitement, knowledge, skills, resources, and stick-to-it-ness) you need will come to help you finish.

Thank you for reading this article. I hope it helps you complete a project that you’ve put off for varying reasons. Share with an accountability partner and take off on your adventure to complete your project. Place a comment on Accountability Corner when you begin and when you complete your mission each week.

Accountability Corner Series:
Step 1 Accountability Corner
Step 2 Accountability Corner – Project Ideas
This Post – Step 3 Your Weekly Project Plan

Leave a comment. Ask questions. Share your plans. I’ll cheer you on.

Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards, Author
Copyright © 2009-2023 Joan Y. Edwards

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