Believe it or not, summer is just around the corner. It’s time for trips to the beach, picnics, and long lazy days with your family and friends. While summer can be a lot of fun, it is also the time of year people pull out their working clothes and allow their creative juices to flow regarding the great projects they want to accomplish during the summer.

While it is easy to stand on this side of summer and marvel at all the days you will have to complete projects, don’t let this fool you. Summer gets crazy really quick and before you know it, the days are getting shorter, a crisp wind begins to premiere forthcoming cold weather, and all your great project ideas either lay untouched or even worse, halfway finished.

This happens to all of us. We start with good intentions but often fall flat. Although this is not always our fault, some of the elements which result in the failure of summer projects could easily be avoided. Below are several things to consider which may help you not only get off on the right foot with your summer projects, but finish them with flying colors!

1. Don’t Over Plan

This is key! It is easy to sit back and think of all the projects you would love to get accomplished. But let’s face it, between work, the kids being out of school, regular summer activities and those unexpected events, they are not all going to get done. Because of this, it is important not to attempt over achievement. While you may be able to think of at least 20 projects which need to be completed, in reality you may only have time for 5 and that’s okay. If you go into the summer with a small list of projects you are more likely to achieve your goals than if you began with a huge list. Think about the things you really want to get done this summer and save the rest for later. Don’t worry, they will always be there waiting for you.

2. Organize Your Goals

Once you have decided upon an achievable list of projects you want to complete, it is important to prioritize them. What are the projects on your list which need to be done first and what projects could potentially wait a little longer? By putting your projects in order of importance you can then be assured high priority projects are not put off until it is too late.

Another way to organize your projects is by tackling the large tasks first and leaving the smaller ones for later. While it is a lot easier to procrastinate and finish small tasks first, in the end, this results in our big projects being left undone. Although it may be difficult, start with your big projects first and work your way done to the smallest. Not only does this assure large projects are accomplished, but it could potentially lead to more time for other projects if the larger ones take less time than expected.

3. Have a Check List

Check lists are amazing! The ability to check off a task when it is finished gives you the satisfaction of knowing you were able to accomplish a small goal. The check list technique works for projects as well. Whether you are working on landscaping your yard, remodeling a room, or just trying to clean out, most projects have various steps. Before beginning any project, make a list of all the things which need to be accomplished in order for a project to be entirely complete. In a sense, have a road map to guide you and keep you on track. Doing this before a project can help you visually see the steps which need to be taken on a daily or weekly basis.

This method is especially helpful when working on projects which take a long time to accomplish. You may begin to feel frustrated when a project seems to drag on. However, by having a detailed check list, you can slowly mark off specific tasks and therefore see your progress. This is also an effective way to help budget your time. By looking at all the tasks which need to be done to complete your project, you can then create a schedule which will not only work around other summer events, but also help you stay on track.

4. Buy the Necessary Supplies

No matter what your project will entail, you are going to need supplies. Often times, we jump right into a project and invest in supplies only on a needed basis. However, by taking such a route, you are setting yourself up for delays. We all know the feeling of starting a project and realizing we are missing an important tool. So we have to run to the store only to discover they don’t have what we need. This means we have to search all over town for that specific item or even order it online. All this time spent searching for your supplies eats into the time you could be working on your project.

In order to avoid this dilemma, plan ahead, know what you are going to need. Although surprises do arise and you cannot always know what you will need early on, planning ahead as much as possible and organizing your supplies will make your summer projects go a lot smoother.

5. Have Fun

If you disregard any of these tips for your summer project, don’t let it be this one! Summer is supposed to be fun, so make the projects you attempt a memorable experience. Get your kids involved or maybe even your friends. Make it enjoyable rather than something you dread. Whether you are remodeling a room or going through that dusty old attic, there are so many things you can do to turn boring work into something you will actually enjoy. By taking some of the seriousness out of summer projects you are not only making something a little more relaxing but also boosting the probability that your project will be completed.

No matter what project or projects you are attempting to tackle this summer, going into anything with a thought-out plan and a determination to have fun while accomplishing your goals is key. While some projects may be daunting, don’t let them overwhelm you. Stepping back, thinking through a project and setting reasonable deadlines and goals before beginning anything will assure those summer projects are a great success!

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