Inside: The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to buckle down and finish projects that have been loitering on our to-do lists for far too long. ~
Several months ago, Randy called us all together to help him with a project. We went around the house, room by room, making a list of all the home-improvement tasks large and small we needed to do.
Randy had that list on the kitchen counter for several months. One by one, he checked things off. Get rid of dog scratches on all the interior doors—check. Add lighting in the attic—check. Put new vents in the bathrooms—check. Replace loose tiles on the kitchen floor—check. Install a hot-water circulation pump—check.
Clearly, my husband is not one to leave things unfinished. Sometimes it causes him what I would call undue stress. But he gets things done like nobody’s business.
I’m a Slightly Different Story
There are certain things I finish, of course. Household tasks, like clockwork. Supper, every night. On my morning runs, I don’t stop until I’m done.
With writing and blogging, though, I’m more comfortable with unfinished business. I never gave this much thought until last summer, when I mentioned that the blog folder on my laptop held several partially written posts that were almost complete.
“The beginning is done, the rest is either mostly finished or in note form that should be easy enough to wrap up,” I wrote here. “I’ve started and stopped working on these posts so many times I’ve lost track. One is about my word of the year for last year, if that tells you anything.”
Is There a Better Way?
My blogger friend Donna responded with a comment that made me rethink my life choices—or at least a few of my blogging habits.
“I always finish everything I start, no matter how hard, uninteresting or meaningless it becomes,” she said. “I am a stickler for finishing a blog post or other writing project, even before I allow myself time to eat. I can’t imagine having a folder with unfinished anythings.”
Putting off eating would seriously impair my ability to write. Not to mention my ability to do pretty much anything else. But Donna’s words gave me considerable pause—followed by a big dose of motivation to stop procrastinating.
Work in Progress
I’m happy to report that I have since completed several of those aforementioned, almost-finished posts, including that piece about my word of the year from 2021.
But I’m only getting started. At this very moment, I have 25 Word documents containing notes that I could turn into publishable material fairly easily.
I also have other projects, writing and otherwise, that need attention—plus a considerable amount of creativity and brain power. When I start to doubt myself and my abilities, though, the promise of Philippians 1:6 steadies my heart and keeps me focused: “I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Keep On Keeping On
I’m holding on to this truth for my husband, my daughters, myself, for you.
Yes, there are days—entire seasons, even—when the weight of the world collides with whatever is happening in our own bodies and minds, giving us no choice but to put ourselves to set aside our grand plans, put ourselves on autopilot and do the next right thing.
But when the fog lifts, as it tends to do, it’s time to get busy again. And whether we tackle our to-do lists like Randy and Donna or we could stand to grow in efficiency like me, we can all trust that God will direct us, strengthen us and give us the wisdom we need to finish the work set before us.
• • •
Do you ever let tasks or projects hang out on your to-do list for weeks, months or (like me) even years? What motivates you to complete them? Please share in the comments. And Happy New Year!
♥ Lois
When I start to doubt myself and my abilities, Philippians 1:6 keeps me focused: “I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Click To Tweet There are days when the weight of the world collides with whatever is happening in our own bodies and minds, giving us no choice but to put ourselves to set aside our grand plans, put ourselves on autopilot and do the next right… Click To TweetP.S. I’m linking up this week with Sweet Tea & Friends, #tellhisstory, InstaEncouragements, Recharge Wednesday, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth.
Photo by David Griffiths on Unsplash
33 comments
I relate. I’ve been overwhelmed for like 17 years, between raising four children and dealing with military life. I am singularly focused on this one goal this year, so when I saw the title of your post i was excited to read it. I am excited to tackle some unfinished business this year. Are you excited too?
Yes, I am! Reading your comment flashed me back to seasons when I felt continually overwhelmed as well. Not for 17 years while also dealing with military life, however. (That’s a lot!) Good luck with tackling unfinished business this year… here’s to doing the next right thing, one step at a time!
Yes, I can relate too. You’ve given me some thoughts to pause and reflect on here.
Thanks bunches for sharing this with Sweet Tea & Friends this month dear friend.
I’m still thinking on it all myself, Paula. Happy New Year, friend! ❤️
Um…yeah. I can relate to your unfinished writing folder. I don’t do that as much with my blog, though I do have a few started from last year. I have several writing projects—fiction and nonfiction—that I’ve left over the years. Your post has given me something to think about.
I’m glad found it thought-provoking, Ashley. It was great to “meet” you in critique group … I look forward to getting to know you better this year!
I’m generally a finish-er! But I do have lots of unfinished writing projects at any given time. This puts a little fire in me to get some of those finished, deleted, or organized if they just need more time to simmer. Thanks, Lois, for this perspective!
Time to simmer … that’s such a valuable part of the writing process, isn’t it? And hitting delete on those notes files that seemed like a good idea once upon a time but not so much anymore? I think I need to schedule another blog file cleanup! 🙂
What a great perspective. I have always thought of the new year in terms of new things – not old things I need to finish. But I like it!
I’m glad you like it, Lauren … it makes sense to me too! 🙂
“When I start to doubt myself and my abilities, though, the promise of Philippians 1:6 steadies my heart and keeps me focused: “I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Thank you for this encouraging reminder, Lois. I often struggle with doubting myself and my abilities and do far too much self-criticizing and procrastinating. May we both set aside our grand plans and do the next right thing! Love and blessings to you!
It’s comforting to know I’m not the only one who struggles with self-doubt and procrastinating, Trudy. Holding on to the truth of Phil. 1:6 with you, dear friend!
Hello, Lois,
I’m coming to your blog, courtesy of my friend, Lisa Burgess, who linked to your wonderful post day. When I saw that huge FINISH photo, I felt prompted to read your blog, b/c my word for 2023 is FINISH! I really loved your insights (and Donna’s, and left her a comment). Thank you so much for taking time to write this, b/c I really needed this encouragement today. I procrastinate out the wazoo, and need to FINISH. However, your reminder that, yes, while *I* need to do something, I must not forget that it’s really GOD who will enable me, AND He promises to complete that good work which He began in me. I can do nothing in my own strength, sans His enabling. In light of my word, FINISH, I like these translations of that verse, b/c I presumed that to complete is also to finish:
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” NLT
“There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.” (MSG)
What’s so interesting about the translation from The Message, is that I had considered the word FLOURISH this year. However, then I realized I won’t flourish till I FINISH. So, thank you ever so much for your post and verse, which prompted me to consider it in another light.
May God bless you in your sharing His Good News in 2023 through your lovely blog!
xo
Lynn Morrissey
Lynn, so good to hear from you! I love that your word for 2023 is finish and that my words here encouraged you. Ironically, I had originally planned to post something about MY new One Word this week, but I haven’t finished it yet. 🙂 Thank you for sharing the additional translations of Phil. 1:6 … I like the idea of a “flourishing finish.”
Your post makes me want to ask if I can borrow your husband to help me get my house sorted out! 🙂 Seriously though, I am encouraged that I have made some progress on a couple of major tasks last year and already tackled clearing out a couple of areas in the first few days of this year. Now I just need to keep it up!
I think I am bad at finishing things in general because I start too many things. I am always full of enthusiasm when I have a new idea, but then the initial excitement wears off and I struggle for time to complete it. I do have a couple of writing projects that I do want to complete, so your post is a good challenge to actually work on doing that this year.
Haha, Lesley … I’m sure Randy would be quite happy to help you out if we were ever in your neck of the woods. 🙂 I’m glad you’ve made progress on clearing things out … I need to tackle some similar projects very soon.
I too have a long list of ideas and blog starters. Sometimes one will sit there for a long time and then all of a sudden something sparks (the Holy Spirit?) within me and I’m off and running/typing, inspired by a topic that didn’t seem to hold possibilities just days or weeks before. God certainly has a sense of humor!
Oh my goodness, Nancy … He certainly does! I’m thankful for those bursts of Holy Spirit-inspired creativity too. 🙂
Great post Lois!! Thank you for including my previous comment, though I feel a bit bad that it may have sounded insensitive. People who struggle with procrastination often battle anxiety, which is not always easily overcome by a “try harder” mentality.
That being said, I do know it honors God when we seek to accomplish excellent work in a timely fashion.
No matter how long it takes you to publish a blog article, they are always welcome and a tremendous blessing to me!
Donna, as an author, I greatly appreciated your comment here, AND b/c my 2023 word is FINISH, which has been a real struggle for me. I appreciate your clarification. Yes, I’d need to eat. 🙂 But also, as an author, while I meet professional deadlines (it’s imperative for publication), I would say that sometimes it has been beneficial to me to let something gel or cool and not push through to completion (obviously w/ out an imposed deadline by a publisher). Sometimes, in fact often, for many authors, it’s important to allow thoughts to percolate. And quite often, I’m amazed that God will lead me in a totally different direction, and sometimes, years later. That happened w/ my book on prayer-journaling. Had I pushed through to completion (especially before having a publisher) in the way I *thought* I was to write it, I never would have waited for God’s plan, which was totally different from mine. Again, I admire your fortitude, and hope to apply your wonderful insights in other areas of my life, because I am surely struggling to complete/FINISH some longstanding (and I mean, LONG!!) unfinished projects. Thank and bless you. xo Lynn Morrissey
Aw, Donna … I understand your feelings about your comment but I don’t think it sounded insensitive. You were simply sharing how you approach things, not telling anyone else how to do it. 🙂 One result was that your words encouraged me to look at things differently, which was very helpful!
I consider myself a great starter, but sometimes a weak finisher! I get excited about doing or learning new things but then after the excitement wears off, I really have to push myself to finish, or at least be excited about finishing well. I think it’s just a character trait I have. It can be frustrating, though! Sometimes I need external motivation to finish things. When push comes to shove, I do like to get things done and checked off. I’m a checklist person! As for blog posts, I don’t enjoy having half finished posts sitting there. I actually have slowed right down in blogging… another example of weak finishing, perhaps. I like the idea of “intentionally quitting’, as Lisa mentioned. That’s a very positive way of looking at unfinished projects.
I’m a checklist person too, Aneta. And I also love Lisa’s thoughts about “intentionally quitting.” Maybe that’s how you could look at where you are with blogging right now … intentionally slowing down. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this, my friend.
I’m afraid I forget more blog ideas than I finish! Haha. I was excited about an idea just yesterday and forgot it by afternoon! I need to find a system to keep track of these, perhaps using the notes function on my phone. Perhaps I should also write down a list to check off with actionable items for all these house things like I do for my writing. We’ll it is the time for starting new things 😉
Sarah, I like to make lists and mark things off, so that definitely helps me get things done. Using the notes feature on your phone to jot down ideas is a good idea … I could stand to use mine more for that too. 🙂
Lois, I’m afraid I lean more toward procrastination. Like you, there are things I am good about finishing consistently, but when I’m not sure of how to do things (like technical issues with my website), I tend to procrastinate. Once I finally get started I will stick with it tenaciously. But if I’m forced to put it on hold, then it’s back to the same struggle to get started. 🙂
I understand your struggle to restart projects you’ve set aside, Donna. Especially with writing projects, I often have a bit of a mental battle before I make myself jump back in. Once I get going, I’m usually OK, but getting there is sometimes a challenge.
I don’t look at unfinished blog posts as leaving something hanging or undone. I think of them as getting out what was on my mind at the time. Then I often let them sit and incubate. When I come back to them, I may find that was all I needed–that post was just something I needed to work out in my thinking, but not something that needed to be polished or published.
I usually write whatever I publish on Sundays the week before. But if nothing is on my heart, I’ll look back through those partial drafts and see if it is time for any of them. I also keep a running list of ideas on the Notes app on my phone–I jot down a few sentences as they come to me. I’ll probably never develop all those. But I like having the ideas there in case I come back to them some day. Some I delete as no longer timely–or if I can’t figure out where I was going with that thought. 🙂
With other things, I have many more things I’d like to do than time to do them, so I’ll probably never get my mental project list all completed–just like I’ll probably never get all the books read that I’d like to. And that’s fine. I’ll always have something to look forward to. 🙂
As you said, meals and laundry and most housecleaning tasks get done regularly. Other house projects tend to not get done until someone is coming over, and all of a sudden I *have* to touch up the paint in the bathroom or decide where to hang the picture in the guest room. 🙂 I probably should be more orderly about those kinds of things. But I also don’t need to stress over them. Even with just my husband and I here, my schedule rarely works out like I planned. I ask the Lord for guidance and wisdom each day as to what to do when.
Barbara, I love the behind-the-scenes glimpse of your writing process you’ve shared here. And viewing all the projects you want to do as things to look forward to rather than things you haven’t finished yet is such a great perspective.
While I have LOTS of incomplete ideas for blog posts too, I tend to finish other things to a fault. Sometimes I *should* stop something midway and toss it aside when it is no longer important. (I suppose intentionally quitting is a form of finishing too!–maybe I need to look at it that way). Looking forward to all that you’ll finish in 2023, Lois. 🙂
Lisa, that’s a great point about intentionally quitting being a form of finishing. What a freeing thought!
Hi Lois!
I am so much like you. I have multiple blog posts started that are sitting there staring me in the face when I open my website. I also keep writing ideas tucked away on the Notes app on my phone. Some are drafts that have been submitted elsewhere so I don’t feel too bad about those. Please don’t get me started on my word for last year!!! 😉
Aw, Mary … I understand your feelings about your word for last year. I meant to have something written about my new word weeks ago and still haven’t gotten it done yet. One more area where we can practice giving ourselves grace, right? ❤️