When you’re working on a project, there are always going to be times when it seems like things are taking forever. The design process is an endless loop of brainstorming and redrafts. But the good news is that this happens with every job and it usually means your design project is going well!
If you’ve been working on a project for a while and are feeling frustrated or impatient, here are some ways to get back into the swing of things:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Evaluate the Project Scope |
| 2. Identify Bottlenecks and Delays |
| 3. Communicate with Team Members |
| 4. Prioritize Tasks and Deadlines |
| 5. Break Down the Project into Phases |
| 6. Set Realistic Expectations |
| 7. Address Changes Early |
| 8. Reallocate Resources if Necessary |
| 9. Manage Client Expectations |
| 10. Use Project Management Tools |
| 11. Analyze the Root Causes |
| 12. Learn and Improve for Future Projects |
1. Ask Why
When a project takes too long to finish, it can be hard to pinpoint exactly what’s going on. You have to put yourself in the mindset of the client and ask yourself some tough questions. Why is this project taking so long?
Is there a real reason you’re behind schedule or is it just creative block? Did you give yourself the right tasks to start with?
Are we taking too long because we are struggling with creative blocks and our ideas aren’t flowing as well as they should be?
Or are we just not giving ourselves enough time for brainstorming sessions to come up with great ideas (or even good ones)?
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2. Reevaluate Your Tasks
If your project is taking a long time to finish, take a step back and reevaluate your tasks. Are you working on the right things? Are you doing the right things in the right order? Are you making good use of your time?
If so, then perhaps you need to look at:
- The scope of your project (i.e., what exactly do we want to get done?)
- The quality of your work (the more care and attention we put into our finished product will yield better results)
To sum up, if your project is taking forever to finish, take a step back and reevaluate what you’re doing. Are you working on the right things? Are you doing them in the right order? Are you making good use of your time?
If so, then perhaps you need to look at: The scope of your project (i.e., what exactly do we want to get done?) The quality of your work (the more care and attention we put into our finished product will
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3. Set Specific Deadlines And Milestones
As a designer, it’s easy to get distracted by all the shiny objects in your field and lose focus on what you’re trying to achieve. To avoid this problem, set specific goals for yourself and stick to them!
For example, if you’re designing three websites this month, set aside time every day or every other day so that you can make steady progress on each one. Then when it comes time to launch those websites (or submit them for review), they’ll be ready on time because they already have been!
This way, if one project takes longer than expected maybe an editor needs more revisions or maybe something else happens unexpectedly you’ll still be able to keep up with your original schedule without too much trouble.”
4. Keep A Time Log
If you’re struggling to finish your design project, one way to get a better picture of the situation is by keeping a time log. This means jotting down how long certain tasks take and how much time you spend doing other things beyond your work.
A lot of people waste their day on social media or playing video games, but don’t realize it until they keep track of their time for a few days in a row.
You can use this data to figure out how much time each task takes and whether that’s reasonable given its importance and difficulty level as well as where else you might be able to improve productivity.
For example: If allocating an hour per week for social media would actually save you two hours per week because it prevents distractions while working on other projects, then maybe that’s worth doing!
4. Take Breaks
Take breaks. It’s important to take breaks during your work sessions because it allows your mind to reset and come up with new ideas.
How long should you take a break? You should take a 10-minute break every hour, or if you feel like it’s necessary after an hour of continuous work.
Examples of good breaks: A walk around the block, drinking water from the tap (not from a bottle), taking a quick shower, putting on some music, and dancing around in front of the mirror for two minutes…
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6. Don’t Multitask
Multitasking is impossible. You can’t read while you’re driving or talk on the phone while you’re making dinner. Focus on one task at a time. Set aside blocks of time in your schedule to work on each project and make sure they get done, even if it means losing sleep or taking an afternoon off from work.
Don’t waste time trying to do everything at once focus only on the most important items that need immediate attention, then move on to other tasks once those are completed rather than getting distracted by new things that come up along the way (like checking social media).
7. Make A List Of Priorities
The next thing you can do is make a list of priorities. This will help you to know what tasks need your attention and when.
Listing things in order of importance is going to be key here, so don’t worry about what order they go in, just focus on getting them all down on paper without worrying too much about how they look right now.
Once you have your list, it’s time for the fun part crossing things off! If something isn’t listed at all (and believe me, I have no idea why it wouldn’t be), then we can safely assume that this task isn’t important enough to us right now and we should probably just ignore it until later (or forever).
8. Simplify Something Else In Your Life To Free Up Mental Energy For This Project
You can also reduce the number of things you have to think about at any given time by simplifying your life in some other way. This could mean simplifying your wardrobe, meal preparation, or schedule, for example.
This will not only free up mental energy for this project but also make you happier in general, which will make it easier to focus on the task at hand when it’s finally done!
9. Outsource What You Can Afford To Outsource
When you’re strapped for time, outsourcing is one of the best ways to get your project done. The trick is knowing which parts of your design can and should be outsourced and which ones shouldn’t be.
- What you should outsource if you can afford it:
- What you can afford to outsource:
- Things not worth outsourcing:
On the whole, there are three main types of tasks that are worth hiring someone else for (or doing yourself): writing content, creating graphics and photos, and programming/coding.
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10. Communicate With The Client Realistically About Expectations And Deadlines, Setting Boundaries As Needed
It’s important to let the client know what your expectations are as far as deadlines go. If you’re going to miss a deadline, let them know as soon as possible and work with them to find a new one. If they keep changing the scope of the project or adding more features, let them know what it will cost if they want those added features in their design.
11. Communicate With The Client Throughout The Project
Communicate with the client throughout the project, not just when things are going wrong and not just at big checkpoints or milestones. The best way to do this is with a project management tool.
If you don’t have one already, Trello is a great option because it allows you to set milestones and deadlines for yourself and your clients, which makes it easy for everyone involved to stay on top of what needs to be done (and when).
Keep asking for feedback from the client so that there are no surprises down the road. Even if they say everything looks fine in their eyes, asking them again just because they see something doesn’t mean there aren’t any issues lurking under the surface!
Set boundaries with your clients that let them know exactly how far they can push you in terms of updates and changes without paying more money or extending deadlines further than needed (or even worse: making mistakes).
12. Step Away From The Computer For A While And Think About What You Need To Do Next
Don’t worry about whether or not you are doing it right. Don’t worry about everything being perfect. Just keep working on your project until it is finished!
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Conclusion
So there you have it. You are not alone in your design project taking forever to finish, and hopefully, this article has given you some ideas on how to tackle the problem head-on.
If you think that your design project is taking too long, make sure that you’re clear about the scope of work and expectations before starting any work.
And if it still feels like things are dragging on for too long, consider reaching out to a professional designer for advice they can give some great advice on what steps might be missing from your process or even offer suggestions as to where some of these problems might originate!
Finally: don’t give up hope! Sometimes things just take longer than expected and once they’re done, they’ll be worth the wait (and effort). When I worked at an advertising agency after college graduation all those years ago, I was tasked with creating an email marketing campaign in just one week’s time (a task that usually takes us about three weeks).
At first, it felt impossible but with determination we made it happen successfully within that short period of time; now imagine how much more pressure would’ve been put on us if someone else had worked through those emails instead of ourselves?
It’s important not only personally but professionally as well because then others know who did what when trying something new while working together towards common goals.”
Further Reading
For more insights and information on related topics, consider checking out these resources:
Challenges in Project Management: Explore the common challenges that project managers often face and discover strategies to overcome them.
How Long Does a Design Project Take?: Learn about the factors that influence the duration of design projects and gain insights into managing project timelines effectively.
Stop Endless Revisions: Tips for Designers: Discover techniques and best practices that can help designers minimize the endless cycle of revisions and ensure smoother client collaborations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can I Stop Procrastinating?
Procrastination is a common problem for many designers, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are five tips that will help you break the cycle of putting off important tasks:
Set deadlines for every task and stick to them. Don’t let yourself get distracted by other things. If you have an urgent project coming up, focus on that first and then move on to less urgent ones later in the day or week (if possible).
Set realistic goals for yourself and track your progress throughout the day especially when working with clients who might need updates on their projects at any time of day!
This will keep both parties happy because it shows that everyone is aware of what needs to be done next and what has already been done so far during production timeframes leading up until the completion date (which should coincide with deadline dates set previously).
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How Long Does It Take To Make A Website?
It depends on the complexity of the project, but most websites are completed within 2-4 weeks after the contract is signed.
How Long Does It Take To Make A Logo?
It depends on how complicated your logo design needs to be. Most logos are created in 1-2 business days after your contract is signed.
How Long Does It Take To Design A Mobile App?
Most apps take anywhere from 6 months up until several years depending on how complex they are and what platform they’re being built for (iOS vs Android).
We’ll work with you every step of the way so that we can allow enough time for feedback during the development process and ultimately deliver exactly what you’re looking for!
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.