Do You Have Projects Stuck in Limbo?
- “Get into the best shape of my life by next summer.”
- “Launch a new business line.”
When you first launched these projects you were full of energy and progress came easily. Then the heat faded and everything stalled. Just like iron that cools once you stop hammering it, a project is hard to reheat.
Here is how to warm up those abandoned projects and get them moving again.
Warm the Iron Slowly: Focus for Only Two Minutes
If you try to blast a cold piece of iron with high heat, you will burn through fuel fast. The same thing happens with your motivation. Instead of forcing yourself, bring the temperature up little by little.
Practically speaking, spend just two minutes giving that project your full attention. The “two-minute rule” from Getting Things Done (GTD) recommends tackling anything that can be done in two minutes right away. Even when you are busy, two minutes is a manageable request.
Use those two minutes intentionally. Move beyond “I really should work on that…” and ask, “What is the next step to restart it?” or “Why did I want to do this in the first place?” Either way, you are rebuilding a connection with the project.
When the timer ends, you are done for the day. Pick it up again tomorrow.
Awareness is enough at first. If you come up with tasks for future days, jot them down if you can, but it is fine to leave it at “I paid attention.” Lowering the hurdle is the whole point.
Because the project has been dormant, simply looking at it again is a major step. A project you truly want will stay warm overnight once you have rekindled it—even a little. The next day it will feel easier to focus for a bit longer.
Resist the urge to sprint. If inspiration strikes and you know exactly what to do, go ahead and take a small action. Just don’t exhaust yourself. With a cold project, pouring in all your energy at once only leads to burnout.
Set a daily time limit—say thirty minutes—and honour it. Stop while you still want to continue. That lingering desire makes it far easier to return tomorrow.
Think of it like warming soup over a low flame. Keep the heat gentle, stir it each day, and it will soon be ready to serve.
When You Need Help Restarting
If your project has been on ice for a long time, it can be invaluable to have someone check in with you daily. That is exactly what we do through the Basic Support Plan. Let us help you keep the flame lit.