Breaking Down a Creative Project Step by Step
How I effectively turn a project from idea into manageable steps for completion with this easy to follow routine.
Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed by creative projects? Do you struggle to break down big ideas into manageable steps? It's time to take control of your next project by copying this process.
Common project planning pitfalls when you’re a creative…
Some of the biggest problems I face when it comes to bringing my ideas to fruition is feeling like I don’t know where to start, and that the project is too big for me to handle.
Then there’s the inner critic reminding me of the importance of correctly planning the project and breaking it down into manageable chunks, otherwise it may not be completed on time, leading to increased stress and a lower quality final product. This train of thought adds to the pressure and the general sense of overwhelm.
Having overwhelm running in the background is not something I enjoy so it got me thinking - what if there was a way to make project planning easier? If this is something you’ve wondered, then you’ve probably also wondered what it would be like finishing your next project on time and without stress. If so, keep reading to find out how it could become a reality.
“How do you eat an elephant?
One bite at a time!”
I’ve never understood why anyone would want to eat an elephant, and I’ve never really liked the ‘one bite at a time’ analogy but, if you want to finish your next project on time and without stress then you need to start with effective planning, which translates to chunking it down. By breaking down your creative project into manageable steps, you can feel confident and in control of the process.
You'll be able to tackle each task with more ease, knowing that you have a plan in place. You'll also be able to avoid the stress and overwhelm that often comes with tackling a large project. Instead, you'll be able to focus on the joy of creating and bringing your vision to life.
All the greats have a step-by-step, award winning routine or ritual that they follow, so why should you or I be any different? If you don't have a project planning routine, feel free to try mine out and tweak it to suit your needs!
A step-by-step routine for breaking down a creative project:
Define the project outcome: I like to start by identifying the end result I want to achieve with my project. This helps me to stay focused and on track throughout the process. As creatives, it’s important we have a sense of freedom of expression. So if you’re like me you may find a concrete goal or outcome intimidating or stifling. If that’s the case then having a rough outline for an outcome might be more beneficial if you’re some who values creative flexibility.
Brainstorm ideas: Once I have my outcome in mind, I brainstorm ideas for how to achieve it. This can include research, sketching, or mind mapping. I recently did a great series of articles on brain dumping which is also useful for brainstorming, you can check it out here.
Organize your idea: Once I have an outline for how I could develop my idea, I start to organise it into the skills, materials and/or services that will be required in order to bring the idea to fruition.
Break it down: With the end in mind I next start breaking my project down into smaller, manageable tasks by working backwards from the end product to the beginning. With each step backwards I think about what would need to happen to bring me to each step. This makes it easier for me to tackle each task and make progress towards my goal.
Create an actions checklist: Once I have my steps identified, I create a checklist for one-off actions and recurring actions, such as tasks that need to be ticked off once versus tasks that will need doing on a daily/weekly/monthly basis. This helps me stay on track and avoid procrastination.
Get started: With my plan in place, it's time to get started on my project. I like to keep in mind that I’m allowed to be flexible and that I can adapt my plan as needed.
By following my simple routine, you too can break down your creative project into manageable tasks and achieve your goals with ease - and don’t be afraid to tweak this routine to suit your creative style and how you like to work!
And if you need a little extra helping hand check out this month’s featured printable which paid members can download for free.
I’m cheering you on Fellow Creative
Chloe x