Hi, all:
I am working on an independent project for school this fall. I am finding that, contrary to advice I have had for most of my life to 'let go of things that do not need to be done', I am finding that organizing my environment as part of my 'getting started' relieves stress and helps me focus. I guess I am going to need to factor in extra time for my project.
I need, for example, to remove extra pens from the table and secure loose papers. I also need to have the room tidy and in general order.
Once I am into my project 'subject', I am rolling and if that were all I was required to do then I would not be so uptight about organizing everything around me. The problem I have is with all those extraneous administrative details that need to be taken care of as well as the barrage of ideas that I have which I am used to managing in a different way to my end. In this case, I am left to work alone but I have to have objectives and such. I make them up to a certain point and some are set for me.
A 'problem' I have, as when I write essays, for example, is that I can't do an outline. I 'write my way to understanding'. My essay is my outline and I edit as I go. I shut down otherwise. It works for me. I am sort of doing a giant outline right now, it is required, and it is pressure.
I do prefer working independently, but in some ways I have greater responsibility and accountability for this set up. I am more responsible for the 'how I got to that point' than I am used to. I am not just handing in a finished product, my process is being evaluated. I am using my struggles as a personal learning objective, which I think is a good strategy.
How do other people manage projects? Do you have any advice?
Thank you, LM
19 Sep 2012, 11:52 am
