Once a week I block out an hour of time generally late at night when it’s quiet and free of distractions and I audit my to-do list. The software that I primarily use as my project management hub allows me to break my list up into different projects and categories. I take the time to analyze each project and list what are the next steps I need to either improve it, build upon it or move forward.

Although I never plan to do it, apparently the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. I often look at a project that I’m working on and feel like I have just been served an entire elephant for dinner. That is why taking an audit of your project, blocking out all distractions and spending time asking the question “what is the first, or the next step that I need to take to move this project to the next level?” is so important. I challenge you to do the same. Work through your projects individually and write down as many tasks that you can come up with for each individual section.

To be honest, my to-do list generally has over 100 items on it and this is due to my analysis each week of what needs to happen for this project. There may be tasks that don’t get completed for weeks, or even months, but I list them as they as part of my strategy for moving the project forward. I then each day browse through this list and come up with a plan of action and what needs to be completed that particular day.