Manage the overwhelming
We tend to look at a project as a monolithic unit rather than a
batch of small parts. Yet by mentally taking apart the task, we can
avoid feeling overwhelmed at its magnitude.
Here is a simple suggestion: Work out a way to break the task down
into small, doable parts. Then take it one little piece at a
time.
I learned the importance of this approach years ago when I built a
home in Wisconsin. Intent on saving money and getting some good
exercise at the same time, I determined that my wife and I would do
our own landscaping. I arranged to have 12 truckloads of topsoil
brought in for our lawn, which we would then spread by hand.
Even after exhaustion and a sick, sinking feeling set in, my manly
pride kept me at the task. I found that the only way I could do the
job was to break it down into one pile at a time, one wheelbarrow
trip at a time, one shovel swing at a time.
I could handle that. We did well, manually spreading eight of the
12 loads of topsoil.
Around that time an opportunity arose to hire someone to spread the
remaining four truckloads with a bulldozer. It cost only $50 and
took a lot of stress off our marriage!
From this I also learned the valuable lesson that, as already
noted, it is important to break large jobs down into smaller ones.
Rome wasn't built in a day. Neither are other large projects.
When faced with a major task, don't worry or become anxious about
it. Realize that it will take time. Lay out the tasks and schedule
each day's work. Set smaller goals and actually work toward them.
If the job is still too intimidating, break it into even smaller
bits and extend the schedule. This approach makes many jobs much
more manageable.