The plan was to have the project done in a certain number of weeks or months but it seems to have stalled. The original idea does not seem to be as good as it was in your head and you are beginning to think it is maybe time to let go of it.
Letting go of something you have been working on for a while is never an easy thing to do but if you’re still feeling uneasy about putting your project away, there are some steps you can take to make sure that you are doing the right thing.
Simple ways to reevaluate your project are
Look at the Original Goal
Things may have happened since you started so it is a good idea to step back and see what that maybe. Did the tastes of your customer’s change, is there a new app on the market that makes your idea obsolete or have the market conditions changed?
Ask yourself, “When I sat down to work on this idea what was the driving force behind it and what was the goal?” After answering this question it may give you an idea on whether to put that project away and find something else to work on or you may get a new idea on how to pivot and go a different direction but reach the original goal.
Ask someone to take a look
If you belong to a community of like-minded people there’s never a better time to utilize them than when you are struggling. So, if you’re really struggling with a project, enlist the help of a trusted person in the community to evaluate the idea, product or service you are working on. See if they can help you brainstorm a way through the muddle.
When the brainstorming process is done, go back with the new information and keep working on your project. However, if you’re still feeling frustrated and stuck after getting input, it might be time to give it up.
Take a break from it
Sometimes, it is a good move to put the project away for a limited time. This way you will stop yourself from throwing everything at it and still get a dud for a project. Worse, when you try to force your way through, you might become more frustrated and resentful of the work. This can especially be true when you see that the hours spent and the money, if any is leading to a dead end.
Projects that require all your time and some of your hard earned money can become difficult to let go off but can and sometimes tend to wreak havoc on emotions and may leave you bereft and burned out. To ensure that you don’t fall prey to this, shelve your project for a specific timeframe.
Give yourself as much time as you need and during that time, maybe spend your usual working time organizing your work space. Clean up and go through things that have accumulated on your device, desk or in your car can keep your creative brain engaged while giving yourself space to process.
When the time comes, sit back down with the original project and see if you feel any differently about it. If this time away has allowed you to see a way through whatever had been blocking you, go for it. If however, the original challenges persist, it might be time to shelve the work.
