When a new project arrives, it can sometimes seem impossible because of time-related issues. This is usually an excuse that can be overcome easily through proper organization because this allows work to be done at the same time on various projects without adversely affecting your personal life.
- Definition of objectives:
Starting a job without setting goals can enormously complicate your ability to focus on it and lead to needless procrastination. Setting a deadline (even though the client has not specified one) is a good way to start scheduling a project. - Planning:
Once a goal has been set, you need to plan the work required to reach that goal on time. A realistic approach is recommended in this regard, properly measuring the time to be allocated to this new work. When facing long-term projects, it is a good idea to define milestones with specific dates. This can lead to the perception that you have been rather precipitous in setting that date, which sometimes allows for a slight recycling of the project, perhaps simplifying certain parts of it. - Find time:
Many people who claim not to have enough time might possibly lack effective time management skills. When facing a truly ambitious project, instinct finds man hours that had previously gone unnoticed. This is the case when taking advantage of downtime, such as when traveling on public transport (which can be used to answer emails or read over work completed beforehand). - Accept support from family and friends:
Your personal life may indeed suffer while you are working on a certain project. You should explain to the important people in your life why you are going to spend so much time on this project, doing so in such a way as to ensure they understand you. - Schedule a specific time of every week for the project:
When working freelance, with various clients or beginning a new project while still doing your regular job, you should set a schedule for the new project. This will mean it gets the same priority as anything else, avoiding the risk of postponing it. - Outsourcing:
If certain parts of the project can be subcontracted, this idea should not be rejected out of hand; even when talking about things not related to the daily routine of the people in question, which could potentially reduce the time spent on what is actually a priority issue.
These are several keys to good project organization. Others worth mentioning are: a suitable workspace; knowing when to reject anything in time that diverts attention from the goal; and getting ahead on work that could potentially be postponed until after finalizing the project, such as a marketing or distribution plan.