DISQUS

kazari · 11 months ago

At work, I leave my notebook open, with a quick note of where I'm up to, on top of my keyboard. This way, when I get to my desk in the morning, it's right there. I see it, I remember - and I haven't even logged in yet. So even if I do decide to check my email first, I know exactly where to start when I do settle in.

Devan · 11 months ago

Yes, I find that leaving screens open etc. on my laptop helps tremendously, as I can figuratively 'strap myself back in the cockpit' and have everything ready to go. This includes multiple editor windows, browser sessions, bug tracking tools etc.

I know many people will go 'yoikes - you leave your editor window OPEN, with real CODE sitting there?' but yes the time and distraction of reopening everything from all over my hard drive and network is totally alleviated.

I find it so much easier to re-absorb the mental state I was in when I left off this way.

Glen Stansberry · 11 months ago

I love your phrase 'strap myself back in the cockpit'. Priceless ;)

Jamerson · 11 months ago

I'm a studant of mechanical eng. (mechanical projects) and when I have to stop working on my project for some reason - sometimes I have to change a structure or component... - simply I take a look at my notes 'cause everytime I change something I write it down in order I don't have to ask myself "why did I change that?

Great post! and very interesting.

Melissa · 11 months ago

I definitely try to leave everything open, all my windows and webpages I was viewing. I also re-read my writing, which often sparks new ideas in addition to helping me see where I may have been going astray. One little secret trick I use is to listen to a creativity brain wave cd from Holosync. If I always listen to that when I'm writing then my mind gets programmed to jump into that creative state of mind as soon as it hears the music.

Side note, I went to college with a guy who always studied for exams in the pub. So right before he went to the exam he'd go chug a beer so he could get back into the state of mind he was in while studying!!!! What dedication :-)

Glen Stansberry · 11 months ago

Hah! If only we were that dedicated to our projects ;)

Miguel de Luis · 11 months ago

what I do is a sort of motivational trick, I remember how it felt when I was in the zone, writing as if possessed.

Ryan Biddulph · 11 months ago

Hi, Nice post. I plow through projects myself, finish them in one shot. If anything, I go back to it revise the complete work.

Ryan

Sangrail · 10 months ago

Mark Forster suggests, when stopping a task, to not get to a good 'break point' but to leave it incomplete. Eg if writing, leave the last sentence unfinished.

That seems to make it more likely that you keep turning over the project in the back of your head, because you know it's not 'finished', and it gives you an easy point to pick up the project from.

When I've tried it, I think finishing the sentence was a bit more awkward, as I wasn't on a roll like I was when I left it, so it didn't sound as good, but I think I did get started again quicker, so it did work in that respect. And I can just go over the start/stop point while reviewing/editing anyway.

Jay Daverth · 10 months ago

Before I start a new project, I find an album in my collection that I haven't listened to in a while. Then I set it to 'repeat' and that remains the constant background throughout. That way, as soon as I hear it I am back in the zone again. Others may find this annoying, but for ADD-types like me, I just tune it out anyway, so it's more of an associational tactic to get me started.

Fair warning, for extended projects, there are now quite a few albums that I simply cannot listen to anymore without feeling stressed and agitated!

Ricky C · 10 months ago

I used to write a simple note in my MS word writing about my to-do-a list for my project, then i started a research over the net, finding the resource and image, bookmark it and write a simple note to every site page that i visited and in the next day, i try to figure it out how i can arrange the list that i gathered into an outstanding paper. And yes i sometimes leave my windows open because i just feel lazy to re-opened the application.

Rob · 11 months ago

Great post! I think that continuously and successfully completing projects needs a better mindset from most people. As Roosevelt said, "Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds". My top 9 ways to help you think differently and achive your project aims and goals are:

1. Beware of boundaries and labels
2. Be proactive
3. Treat people as equals
4. Listen to criticism
5. Stretch yourself
6. Build the people around you
7. Publicly appreciate others
8. Reflect
9. Focus, focus, focus

Explinations behind each of these points appear on my blog.