Are you an idea person? Do you always have new ways of doing things, new systems, new art, goals, or a new career path swirling around your brain? How often do you follow through on those ideas and actually finish them? If you’re like many people, the more choices you have, the harder it is to make one. Instead of being overwhelmed and simply procrastinating everything, try these ideas to make accomplishing your goals and following through on ideas just a little bit easier.
Create deadlines
When you have more time to complete a task, that task naturally expands to fill the time available. On the contrary, if you have three hours to do something that should take three hours, you will fit it into the time slot allotted and complete the task on time. Therefore, if you are struggling with too many ideas, but not enough time or mental clarity to pick one and follow-through, clear your plate by assigning achievable mini-deadlines for each activity throughout your day. Then, you can pick a single idea and give yourself a certain amount of time to see it to its natural end.
Write things down
One of the biggest struggles with having too many ideas is trying to remember them all. Instead of just dealing with your mind clutter and having your other projects suffer as a result, write them down and stop trying to retain them in your short term memory. Rather than opening notes on your computer and jotting down random words and numbers, stick to a classification system that will help you remember which category each idea fits into. Whether it’s work, personal life, or the function of your home, you will have clear, concise notes that sum up each of your ideas. This will allow you to finish something instead of just starting it.
Be willing to quit
Contrary to what many people believe, successful people don’t follow through on every single idea they have. If something seems viable, give it a chance, but don’t persist solely out of stubbornness. This will eat away at your time, energy, and resources and isn’t worth the effort. Just be sure to quit at the right time and in the right way, not in a fit of momentary frustration.
Just do it
When your gut is screaming at you to do something, it is usually a good idea to listen to it. Stop overthinking, stop overplanning and reevaluating and take that leap of faith. Trust yourself and your own intuition, and you’ll be surprised how rarely it leads to astray. Plus, even if it does, you will have learned something from the experience and will be growing to become a better, more confident person. Follow through on the first idea you had…it was probably the best one.
Let it simmer
While jumping at the first idea may be a good strategy for some, others need time to let their ideas simmer. Those thoughts that are always at the back of your mind that keep evolving and changing, the ones that seem to suck up all your attention, those are often the ones worth pursuing. Even better, sometimes the ideas that seem the most stupid grow into your best over time.
Clear your mind
As mentioned above, creativity is a recipe for a cluttered mind, and while some people can flourish with disjointed thoughts bouncing around their skull, other creative thinkers need a clean workspace. Take time to spend in mindful breathing or meditation and clear your mind from any negativity or clutter. This will also help you hone in on a single idea and will allow you to become more in touch with your mind and your body.
Think practically
If you have a tendency to be a dreamer, it may be hard to condition your mind to think practically about something. In this case, either train your brain to address practicalities and formulate a step by step plan to accomplish an idea, or bring in a friend who can help you do so. Sometimes it’s hard to see what needs to be done if you are too close to an idea. An outside party could be just what you need to get the boost to get things done.
-Susan Patterson