One of the best ways we can fill our time is to be involved in a dynamic and diverse range of work, projects and hobbies. This sort of fulfilling involvement in our community is what makes life worthwhile. Whether we are involved in a passion project or something entirely community-based, there’s something to be said for the joy that putting in effort brings. So you can make the most of your time and finally get started on that project you’ve been putting off, we’ve put together 5 key tips you need to follow.

Acknowledge the fear

One of the biggest initial hurdles you face when starting a new project is fear.

Whether this be fear of the unknown, or fear of your superiors or fear of failure, almost all of us will experience some sort of fear, stress or anxiety in the stages leading up to starting a new project. As soon as you know that a new project is on the horizon, take a moment to acknowledge and experience the negative feelings that wash over you.

Go easy on yourself; these feelings are normal.

A great way to combat these emotions, however, is to try and analyse them. Exactly what is it that you are afraid of, and what is the best possible solution to try and avoid this?

The next step is to talk to people.

Take some time out from your planning in order to get some real world opinions, advice and mentorship. Ask your friends, family, colleagues, business partners and mentors what they think of your proposed idea or project, and if they have any valuable input. Do you need help with a specific part of your project, for example financing? A great way to obtain quick and easy financing for your project is through Lease Corp machinery financing.

However, if you need help with this issue or any others, don’t be afraid to ask.

Not only will this help to collaborate ideas for your project, but you may be surprised where the conversation leads! Next thing you know, you could have a large investor come out of a simple conversation looking for advice.

Inform your executives

If your project is work-related, the best thing you can do to gain traction for it is to inform your superiors. Not only will this flag up any potential issues and thus improve your project altogether, but it will mean that you can avoid too much red tape when it comes to signing off on things. As well as this, it is good work practice to keep open and honest dialogue with your superiors; letting them know your future plans will only increase their loyalty and respect for you.

Break it off into chunks and set deadlines

Next, it’s always a good idea to compartmentalise your project.

When we have a huge project in front of us, it can be difficult to decipher where to start; looking at a huge wall of tasks can seem all too overwhelming! Break your project down into phases, and then further down into individual tasks and goals. Set deadlines for these items so that you have a rough timeline of when each phase will be complete. Then, make sure you concentrate on each task individually, and try not to overexert yourself by doing too many things at once.

Get others involved

Remember that age old saying: burden shared is a burden halved? Well, that is a saying for a reason. Many hands indeed make light work, so if you have trusted friends, accomplices or colleagues you want to bring on board, definitely do so. As well as this, the best ideas always come about via think tanks or group input.

Whether you’re a procrastinator or not, it can seem daunting to start a whole new project. However, stick to these 5 tips and you’ll be sure to get the ball rolling in no time!