Chunk it Down
You have all heard the one about how to eat an elephant I’m sure.
If you are the sort of person to set goals or accomplish things then the task can often feel quite overwhelming at times. I remember when I sat down for my first lecture for my part time business law degree. It was the start of a five years study in the evenings.
Here is how I got through it.Everything can be chunked down into bite sized pieces. I knew that each module was a year long and was broken down again into one coursework and one exam. All I allowed myself to do was to focus on each assignment and nothing more. if I had to dwell upon the 20 other exams then I would feel overwhelmed and choke.
Same for my black belt. One belt at a time split six months apart. Each belt broken down into three training sessions per week with a seminar every two months. I started as the person closest to the door at the back and slowly worked my way up the lines until one day, it was me at the front. Everyone else had quit or moved on.
Take whatever goal you want and chunk it down into steps and then dwell only upon the next step you need to take. This works for business, making money, passing exams, losing weight or pretty much anything in fact.
Have a go.
Paul Browning
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14 Comments
Breaking down a large project into smaller tasks can make it seem less daunting.
It may also help you to start with the nastiest chunk if possible…things can get better from then on! A great little book called ‘Eat That Frog’ by Brian Tracy comments:
“There?s an old saying that if the first thing you do in the morning is to eat a live frog, you?ll have the satisfaction of knowing that it?s probably the worst thing you?ll do all day”
@Mark – Never heard of that book, but interesting concept….
This technique does work. In fact, I use it often.
This is a great way to make long-term goals more manageable. In your example, obtaining a degree is a long-term goal that can take years. By focusing on short-term goals, you can avoid becoming discouraged by the time that must be invested.
Mark, I use that thinking all the time. I like to get the hardest part out of the way first. That way, it is smooth sailing after that.
Short term vision for long term success? This may just work?
Step by step, piece by piece, endurance makes success. I’ve been practicing this for years and it works well. Sometimes I am surprise by my progress made over time.
Its a good way to avoid being overwhelmed and to get control back into your day
Thanks Paul – will try it! CCNA for example!
Rome is not built in one day, success needs patience and perseverance.
Rules of thumb, I will try it out for my mid-term exam.
I learned this technique when I was studying music. It is actually extremely effective. It helps you master one thing at a time without getting overwhelmed.
When I got a new position at work, I had to break down my new tasks into tiny bites, because if I looked at the big picture, it was too overwhelming.