Do You Prioritize Your Projects or...

[hunterridgefarm]

Just jump from one to another, complete one before starting another, have several going at once...

I guess having a new house and a lifetime of projects infront of me with several started I get the feeling of being a little overwhelmed at times. Don't get me wrong I absolutely love having things to do/build/work on.

I have landscaping to do, grass to sow, gravel to spread, rock retaining wall to build, block retaining wall to brick, more trees to cut down(100 cut so far), 100 plus blueberry bushes to plant, potting shed to build for wife, equipment shed to build, workshop/pole barn to build, build greenhouse,shrubs to dig for the landscaping at the house, 300 plus root plugs for nursery business I need to dig and move to this property...needs to be done in Feburary, gutter lines to extend ( have dug trench but has rained the last two days), another road to cut, stumps to grind, etc, ect,. This does not include my wifes "HONEY DO BOOK".

I did get the Well House completed, well 98% complete.

I tend to have several projects going at the same time. For one reason or another I may have to back off a project for a while, due to rain, lack of rain,lack of material (meaning I forgot something), or just need a change of pace. I do try to finish one project before getting to far into another.

I have tried to prioritize but all seem important...of course this past weekend hanging curtain rods went to the top of the list.

Now I am wondering if I should plant the bottom this year or wait until I get a few projects marked off the list; or just plant 25-50% of what was planned.

Do you priortize your projects?

Funny thing is I don't like just sitting around. Last night because of rain and getting dark early I was watching TV and I thought " if I had only cut and ripped that walnut board (14'x18") this past weekend I could start working on that country kitchen table the wife wants...

 

[firefighter9208]

I find that the best way for me to a complete a project/projects is to make a "to do " list. I work in a school and have a good deal of time off each year (I work 202 days and your regular 9-5 person works 260 days a year). I have 2 weeks at Christmas, 6 weeks in the summer, and every holiday known to man. . I still can't get all my projects done.

I usually bounce from one project to another. I started a chicken coup/run about 2 weeks before Thanksgiving. I got the chickens the day before Thanksgiving. We worked on the run Sunday after church and now have it ready to put the aviary netting on.

I had to stop progress on that project to work on goats kidding since Dec. 17.

Some days I'll be off and take my daughter to my moms and my son to the babysitter. I'll come home and have so many projects started that I can't figure out which one to work on. I'll just stand there in my shop or the yard for 10 minutes trying to figure out what to do. Sometimes I'll just get on the golf cart and ride around the property or go to my neighbors and talk to him. He has about as many projects as I do.

The list helps me the most though. I write in with a black sharpy and post it on the inside of my shop door. I then mark off items as I complete them. Of course I add items to the bottom as I think of them. I don't think I'll ever has that list done. Maybe one of these days when I retire.

Sometimes it's best to work on items that will make the wife happy. Maybe I'll go home today and caulk around and paint the trim on those two windows in the office and upstairs bedroom (we moved in the house 7 years ago) when I get home today. Or maybe not .

Chris

 

[czechsonofagun]

Funny thing is I don't like just sitting around. Last night because of rain and getting dark early I was watching TV and I thought " if I had only cut and ripped that walnut board (14'x18") this past weekend I could start working on that country kitchen table the wife wants...

It is important to be lazy sometimes - if you lose the ability, it is very hard to learn

I usually run more projects at a time, sometimes they wait for the money to be available or I hit a wall and wait for a solution to present itself.

Also weather/hunting/time of the day can be a factor. There are things I save for the shop and evening, not to waste the daylight by working inside.

 

[teg]

I wonder if I quit reading TBN, how long would it take to get some gauge wheels built!!! I do several projects at a time but at some point will make sure they are done before starting a new one. Have a cabin down by the creek to build and have put it off until everything else is done. This year is cabin time...

 

[MossRoad]

...

Do you priortize your projects?

...

Sure!
If it costs me money it comes after something that makes me money... unless it is requested by my spouse. Then it jumps to the top of the list.

 

[CurlyDave]

I prioritize, but very loosely.

I always have several going at once, and I will work on the most important until something more important comes up...

 

[hunterridgefarm]

have so many projects started that I can't figure out which one to work on. I'll just stand there in my shop or the yard for 10 minutes trying to figure out what to do.
Chris

I have done this many times!

 

[Matt_Jr]

I start many at once. I prioritize by weather and necessity. When one rips off the roof you have 'till it rains to get the new one back on. When the wife plans on walking the pug the grass better be lower than his belly. And like Moss said, if it makes me money, it comes first.

 

[JB4310]

I guess I'm the odd ball, I've got a 1 track mind and can only do 1 thing at a time, Ive been running a small restoration/waterproofing contracting business for 26 years now and never had 2 jobs going at once. For my own home projects I'm the same.

I know guys that have 4-5 jobs going at the same time, in 1 day they go between 2-3 jobs? Don't know how they do it, guess that's why I always stayed small with just 1 employee. Customers seem to appreciate it, I hear stories like painter starts a job and leaves in the middle while lady lives in the house with her furniture covered with drop clothes and can't get in her kitchen for a week.

I like to get paid!

 

[LBrown59]

I have 2 weeks at Christmas, 6 weeks in the summer, and every holiday known to man. . I still can't get all my projects done.

I don't think I'll ever get that list done.
*Maybe one of these days when I retire.
Chris

Better get them done before then .
It will get worse when you retire.