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Unfinished Projects

Goofyball

Hey guys, I can't be the only one who does this, but does anyone else start things and then leave them months or years without returning to them?

I wonder if it's an autism thing?

In some cases, years later I don't even return to some projects despite knowing that it still needs to be done. I either lose interest or, more likely, I get busy doing something else that takes up all my time and interest. I find it difficult to be interested in multiple things at once.

Of the top of my head these are some of my unfinished projects...

* I have multiple books that I've started writing and then stopped and never returned to. They are saved on my computer waiting to see the light of day again.

* I have a Rover SD1 Vitesse Twin Plenum which I bought a few years ago when I was 21. I parked it to the right of the workshop at the end of the yard by the trees, intending to get to it. Here we are nearly 6 years later and it's still parked there and a tree branch has since fell on it, smashing the rear window and rust has set in the usual places.

* I intended to paint my room so bought the brushes, paint and overalls to do the job. The paint and kit is all still waiting to be used.

* I have an old stereo from the 80s at the back of my workshop, waiting to be restored.

* I have a classic Mini Cooper which I had intended to restore and repaint as one of the Minis from the Italian Job. I want to repaint it as the white one which was always my favourite of the 3. It's been in my workshop nearly 10 years now.

These are just some of my unfinished projects but there are many, many more which I haven't listed here.

Parents

  • It sounds like the autistic traits shared with ADHD where you have trouble focussing on one project for long.

    As a practical way forward I would recommend:

    1 - Get rid of the Rover to someone else to restore - reduce the number of huge projects on the waiting list.

    2 - for the short projects, JFDI. Paint the room tomorrow (or the first day you have where you are not committed to work) and get it complete. The sense of completing this should give you some motivation to do the next one.

    3 - With 2 projects now off the list, tackle the stereo. At least get it to the stage of ordering any parts and do as much as is possible before stopping.

    4 - Finally assess the mini. Do a wish list for parts, check all the mechanicals for wear / breakages then the trim, seats, consumables, price of paint etc etc and work out the cost. It is probably going to be too expensive and not get used so have a serious think about it before deciding on whether or not to go down that rabbit hole.

    Repeat the process on all projects and cleaning the slate to only the best ones will make them almost all achievable.

    I would be tempted to do an autumn cleanout of the workshop as there are bound to be other little projects or things needing money spent on repairing / replacing / restocking or new tools - it will also be great for any winter project to have the workspace well sorted and stocked before starting.

    Projects are easy to pick up so just because you have one queued up does not mean it is worth it. Be ruthless in your assessment and the unviable ones will soon be revealed and can be cut loose for another enthusiast to benefit from.

Reply

  • It sounds like the autistic traits shared with ADHD where you have trouble focussing on one project for long.

    As a practical way forward I would recommend:

    1 - Get rid of the Rover to someone else to restore - reduce the number of huge projects on the waiting list.

    2 - for the short projects, JFDI. Paint the room tomorrow (or the first day you have where you are not committed to work) and get it complete. The sense of completing this should give you some motivation to do the next one.

    3 - With 2 projects now off the list, tackle the stereo. At least get it to the stage of ordering any parts and do as much as is possible before stopping.

    4 - Finally assess the mini. Do a wish list for parts, check all the mechanicals for wear / breakages then the trim, seats, consumables, price of paint etc etc and work out the cost. It is probably going to be too expensive and not get used so have a serious think about it before deciding on whether or not to go down that rabbit hole.

    Repeat the process on all projects and cleaning the slate to only the best ones will make them almost all achievable.

    I would be tempted to do an autumn cleanout of the workshop as there are bound to be other little projects or things needing money spent on repairing / replacing / restocking or new tools - it will also be great for any winter project to have the workspace well sorted and stocked before starting.

    Projects are easy to pick up so just because you have one queued up does not mean it is worth it. Be ruthless in your assessment and the unviable ones will soon be revealed and can be cut loose for another enthusiast to benefit from.

Children
  • in reply to Iain

    Thanks mate, all good ideas and I really do need to start clearing things out of my workshop. And the yard Laughing I think I need to be more brutal and just accept that I'm not going to get around to this and that.. like the Rover. OK it's not a rotten shell but another 6 years and it will be beyond saving. If someone's got the know how it can still be saved, but it's not a weekends work! 

    My mum's always telling me to clear a lot of my junk out.. it's not junk. It's all cool stuff but it's finding the time to do a lot of it. I've got my Senator and Quattro to restore at the moment, pGrinningentially the Mini Cooper as well Grinning