Here at LearnDoBecome, we teach how to have a maximum of 7-8 Current Projects for the month—and to post it or write it in an obvious place.
It’s how we focus.
We divide them into Me, Family, and “Beyond” (meaning professional or volunteer work), and then we balance ourselves with 1-3 projects in each.
If you have a lot on your calendar or routines list, you may want only 1-3 Current Projects. And you know it is optimal if it gives you a lift whenever you see it.
Other projects go onto a “Next in Line” or “Someday” list, and then ideally, each month you complete the current list and repopulate it with your next set of projects.
But sometimes you’ll want to edit your Current Projects mid-month, which I just did, so I thought it might be helpful to show you what that could look like.
Here are a few reasons for editing:
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Something unexpected came up, so you needed to switch a project. (Notice I didn’t say ADD a project… You’ll want to move one to Next in Line if you already have a full plate.)
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You feel overwhelmed when you look at the list because it’s more than you can actually do. It’s totally fine to whittle it down!
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You completed some projects and either want to make the visual list smaller—or you want to bring up additional projects from “Next in Line.”
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You want to clarify a project because it is either too vague or not exactly what you need to do.
And here’s my experience:
This was my starter list for February:
And this is my updated list:
I’ll just explain what changed and why:
In the “For Me” category, I put “Nutrition Focus” because I had gotten out of the habit of making my soups and pomegranate delights each week. But within the first week of the month, I got the routine back in place and realized I didn’t need this as a project anymore. It switched to a routine with a couple reminders added to my Routines List.
In the “Family” section, I realized “Spencer’s Schedule” was too vague, so instead I switched it to “Life Architecture Plan with Spencer” because there are clearer next steps that come to mind when I see that.
And then in the Beyond section, I also transitioned the Emotional Resilience class support (for church) into a routine (we held a meeting and I sent out start-up information via email). I have a calendar trigger to remind me to check in on that each Sunday.
The smaller the list, the more creative and optimistic I tend to feel.
If you haven’t yet made your Current Projects List for the month, I hope this can get you started, and if you HAVE made your list, I hope this can help you evaluate it so it can truly serve you!
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Thanks! I’m sorry if you have said this in the past, but what is this board made of? Is it a chalk board or are is a black dry erase board with markers? That should be a thing if it’s not.
I figured out why I am stuck with the paper sorting part of my weekly review. I bought the flyer filing system that you recommended 3 or4 years ago and set it up, but I don’t think I have made it totally functional yet. I am still making piles even as I am going through them, because I don’t know where to put them. I really like the whole concept of the file system, but I am so inundated with papers from doctors, Medicaid, Medicare, state housing etc for my disabled adult children and husband that I don’t think I fully prepared adequate categories so that there was a place to put them.
I now think that I have the clarity to take a small step to fix the system so that my paper sorting can be joyful and not become another project I’m stuck on as I have been for years.
Thanks so much.
Hi Linda! Yes, this is a chalkboard, and I just keep some white and colorful chalk in my drawer. 🙂 I’m wishing you luck with Freedom Filer! It also sounds like if you had a cubby system (perhaps with one cubby for each child and one for your husband?), you could have folders inside there–perhaps one for reference/papers you need to keep for awhile and one folder for active papers/bills that have tasks noted on your calendar/next actions list. Sending a huge hug!
Thanks for the reply. I’d say I’m sorry for the struggles you have endured, but considering the person that you’re becoming, they have been heaven crafted just for you.
You should know, that you are such an inspiration to me. Top 5 on my ‘wow if I could spend an afternoon with___________, it would give me energy for the next decade. Pres. Nelson, Sherry Dew also on the list. You’re amazing. I’m planning all of these lunch dates for the millennium. It doesn’t have to be a one on one, just save me a seat at your table. Your podcasts are a fabulous substitute for now and I rewatch any videos just to see you.
Thanks again,
Linda
Oh my goodness, Linda—you are so sweet, and I am truly grateful to be one of your virtual friends! Thank you for the kind words and encouragement. Keep up the great work!
Can you link the recipes for your vegetable soup and “pomegranate delight”? Both sound amazing! 😊
Yes! Here you go! (It’s in our free Community Facebook group, so just request access if you’re not yet a member…) Others are sharing great ideas, too. Enjoy!
Do you have your vegetable soup and pomegranate smoothie recipes posted somewhere? Thanks!
Yes! I just put it inside our free Community Facebook group. 🙂 https://www.facebook.com/groups/learndobecomecommunity/permalink/1389444225217709/
Hi April,
I am working through this editing of the current projects list and I need your help clarifying some things. As I edit things I am also trying to take note of what I HAVE done this month even if it wasn’t a planned project. But as I am putting more intention and focus toward this I am finding myself wondering, “should I even count this as a ‘project’?”. I want to be sure and give myself credit for what I am achieving and I also want to be sure I am correctly naming it so that I can monitor if I am keeping it to the recommended 7-8 or actually going over.
So here’s some examples:
• A cozy gift exchange in an online community I’m in. It wasn’t planned at the beginning of the month but I am not sure its “big enough” to actually be a project. It did take a chunk of my Saturday that would have been designated otherwise. It involved the ordering of an item, going to the store to pick up another, packaging and writing a note, and going to the post office to mail. Something that could all be listed under individual “errands” and checked off. Or should this be thought of as a project? Then I debate do I really want this to count as one of my eight? lol
• My son’s cub scouts needs to use our neighborhood clubhouse as a meeting spot each week. So I am the one responsible for booking each of these which I have to complete an online form for each date which is about 15 different ones. Is this a “project” or just a “task”? I have already completed the portion of paying for and dropping off the check etc, those were errands a previous week.
• Another thing I struggle with determining is when do “events” or connection opportunities change to a project? Again, for me its more about budgeting my time so that I am not giving myself 7-8 projects PLUS all these other things, but I also want to keep them separate if they need to be. So, for example this month I had a couple opportunities that popped up to help a friend and keep her kids for the afternoon and take them to some fun things. I don’t consider this a project, I consider it a connection/social thing on my “create my week” but there’s big chunk of time, planning, going etc involved. And so when editing my projects I want to keep record in a way so that I see why maybe something else didn’t get as much focus as I wanted.
• I have two different weekly women’s groups and we are completing a Bible study. Do I list this under my spiritual connection/social connection and NOT as a project or is it all three?
• I need to get my son scheduled for some counseling. I have had this on my next actions to make the calls and have made several but have been stopped by one obstacle or another. So is this just something that I need to dedicate an hour to making various phone calls to and hopefully check it off as a “task” or is this a project?
• Along the same lines, I need to write a letter to my insurance company about some information I received from an agent regarding “durable medical equipment” and getting pre-authorization from my doctor only to go get the item and find out it “is never covered by my insurance” anyway. How to categorize this?
I could go on with several other things but maybe this will help me figure out how to categorize the others I have as well… putting your principles in place is definitely helping me move forward on things and I have definitely gained traction! I just want to keep refining the process to make it work the best it can! Bless you friend!
P.S.- if it is easier to make this into its own podcast episode you are free to use my questions, lol. I know the time it might take to answer all of this in writing might be asking a lot!
These questions are SO GOOD. I do think I need to record a whole podcast on this. Let me see if I can get it done this week—otherwise I can post a “quick answer” here. ❤️
Thank you so much! I’ll appreciate your input either way, but if you do a podcast, I’m all ears! : )