Self-direction

Setting up forms of accountability

Sometimes our plans to do a large piece of work can feel like the kind of overwhelming task that never quite gets done and forms a mammoth project. It can feel difficult to get started, acting like a burden that we carry everywhere – grinding us down when we are doing something more pleasant and sitting there as an expectation when we need to be doing something else. So, two things may help. Firstly, to break down the bigger project into smaller tasks that seem more do-able and feasible to fit into a particular timescale. Secondly, to create a plan to be delivered by a particular time or date for review by others for comment or completion. Creating accountability with other people for delivering smaller tasks prevents us from drifting. It helps us to make progress when the task is big and the major deadlines are a long way off.