The Little Project Zone: My New Normal

We are now a few months into quarantine and as you know, I’ve been living in and working from our home in Copake, NY. It’s been an adjustment and after all this time here, I’ve found myself practicing a whole new concept which I am calling the “little project zone.”

It’s very relevant to share with you today, because it’s been very helpful for me and might just be something for you to try if you are feeling less than motivated these days. 

I’m a huge gardener. But instead of tackling some really new, massive feats in the dirt, I opted for a few simple berry bushes (along with my normal veggies) this year. At $20 a pop, they were cost-effective and I am still trying something new, without the added pressure of a huge expense or having to learn a completely new skill. Little project zone.

Our pool is in dire need of some TLC out here, but we aren’t getting into replacing the liner and doing major repairs that can wait. Instead, we opted to fix the leaks and get a new light. Little project zone.

Now more than ever, it’s been about keeping things simple. We are all dealing with so much and putting more stress on ourselves at this time is not good for our health and wellbeing.

This was an odd practice to me at first, since I usually have my hands in a million different projects, many of them major, when it comes to life and work. But right now, the little project zone is where I live and it’s been making a difference in my mood. 

The New York Times sends out a Morning Briefing every morning via email with small paragraphs covering the top news and it’s been so much easier to digest than delving into long articles. Little project zone. 

My family and I (we have been quarantined together) have been playing a new game every week to keep ourselves entertained. We are picking simple card games to keep our brains working, but not stress us out. Little project zone. 

Even in my work, I am doing the same thing. Normally, I am planning travel, speaking engagements, client retreats and budgeting far into the future. Instead, I am focusing more month-to-month at this point and not making any major decisions, especially financially related, until I have more information about what is next. Little project zone. 

I have also been writing short articles, instead of thinking about my next book and updating my website with new content after its launch last year. Little project zone. 

You can make progress on your personal and professional goals without going for the big stuff right now. Take little steps and keep it simple. As long as you are taking action, you are moving forward.