Talking through how to manage multiple projects like a pro – without losing your mind.

Why hello, there! As I come out of an incredible busy month – I thought I’d have a nice little sit down to chat with you all about managing multiple projects at the same time.

When thinking through my professional life, I see that things definitely can get hectic every now and then. It’s not always easy balancing multiple projects at once but through a lot of practice I’ve picked up a trick or two along the way that make it a lot easy to keep my head on straight.

(For the most part anyway.)

One thing is for sure! No matter what profession you find yourself in – a common denominator is that we’re all shouldering multiple projects at the same time. That’s the nature of the beast in the fast-paced world we live in and this means time management is essential to staying afloat when managing multiple priorities and deadlines. 

How to Manage Multiple Projects

HOW TO MANAGE MULTIPLE PROJECTS – LIKE A PRO

 

When juggling multiple projects, I lay everything out in one spreadsheet so I can visually see where things line up as follows:

 

 

3. Be Present and Declutter Your Headspace

Time is the most limited resource.

As such, don’t waste time working on one project or attending one meeting while mentally running through things for another project. You will drive yourself bonkers and cut down on your productivity in one sweep.

Mindfulness is such a buzzword for healthy living in general, but it’s also very valuable in your workspace. A great way to manage multiple projects at the same time is to stay present. Avoid thinking about Project X while working on Project Y. Obviously we’re all human and bound to get sidetracked now and then…but when you do, redirect your attention to the project at hand. 

Time is precious. Don’t waste what time you have to devote on one project by stressing over another. 

 

4. Under Promise and Over Deliver

I was told this early on out of college and I thought it was bullocks – but that just goes to show how truly naive and foolish I was. I wanted to promise the world and deliver it too. The problem? When you set that high expectation, falling short in the slightest will both look and feel like a failure.

 

Always, always, always under promise and over deliver.

 

Pad in timing for hiccups along the way and then get the project done ahead of schedule. The same concept applies to not delivering a half-assed product. Taking an extra day to do something well will always leave you in a better position than delivering a mediocre project and saying you ran out of time as an excuse.

 

Your best work is worth waiting for. 

5. Have Allies, Everywhere

In every job I’ve had and all the work I do, I make a point of befriending anyone and everyone no matter what their job is. Not only is it generally kind — it also builds a support system for when I need extra help. Invest time in people and care about them, genuinely. As they say, “it takes a village”. And you’re going to want to know an A-Team player on every single level if you want to make it all work beautifully. 

 

Remember when In the Devil Wears Prada, Miranda had Andy running like a mad woman around town with the impossible task of tracking down the next book in the Harry Potter series? In the end, Andy was able to deliver because she’d made a friend in Christian Thompson who happened to know the artist doing the cover work.

 

Yes, Christian Thompson turned out to be a dirt bag and yes this is an extreme example but it speaks to the power of allies. Sometimes, you can call in a favor – other times they can call in a favor for you. It’s a give and take system but the point is…

 

Having a support system will get you out of a bind when you need it most. 

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Stay stylish and chase your dreams!

XOXO
Kelly

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