Finish The Job

Given the myriad tasks associated with various aspects of camping it is all too easy to get distracted and jump from task to task without getting anything completely done.  However, doing so wastes time and often introduces opportunities for parts to get lost or misplaced or for additional damage to occur to equipment under repair.  If we aren't careful, we end up with dozens of partly done tasks and nothing completed!

Cleaning up a campsite at the end of an outing is all too often ignored.  People who are ordinarily quite tidy sometimes become careless when camping.  Don't be one of them.  First of all, control your trash through out your stay so your campsite is always neat and clean.  It will be a lot more enjoyable and cleaning up when you leave won't be a big job.  So finishing the job at the end of an outing means cleaning up after yourself as well as packing up and going home.  I was once very amused by a clever forest ranger who collected a large box of identifiable trash left behind by particular family.  He sent them a letter advising them the had left something behind and it would be arriving C.O.D.  Thinking it might have been something valuable, the family paid the C.O.D. charges and accepted the package.  I would loved to have seen their faces when they found the box filled with the trash they left behind instead of the valuables they expected to find!

Organize your time and resources to make best use of both.  Start by making a list of all the tasks you need to get done.  Then group similar or related tasks together so you can combine the use of tools and materials when possible.  I like to start with tasks that I'm sure I have the time, the materials, and the knowledge to complete without interruption.   If you jump into something you don't understand, you may very well discover you don't have the tools or the materials or the time to complete the task.  That means setting it aside while you you obtain the necessary items and that is often when things get lost or damaged.  Given a list of things you can do, start with the easiest task first.  It is usually easier to "get going" if the task isn't too daunting. S uccessfully completing a task helps boost your confidence and give you momentum for the remaining tasks.  Once you have completed the easiest task from your original list, pick the easiest task from the remaining list. Starting on a very difficult task can be discouraging and, if you run into problems, may suck up ALL the time you have and you may end up not getting ANYTHING done.

Complete each task before starting a new one.   That means cleaning up any mess you've made and putting away the tools you used.  If you know for sure you're going to use specific tools on the next task, its OK to move them to the next work area, but don't leave them lying around at the end of a task.  Tools left out tend to get lost.   I'd rather spend a few minutes putting things away where they belong so I can find them when I need them next rather than come looking for them during the next task.  It is way too easy to ignore little things, like sweeping up sawdust and disposing of trash.   Don't allow yourself to fall into that trap.   Those little things accumulate and before you know it, you have a whole new list of tasks.  I believe most of us have enough things to do that we don't need to make unnecessary work for ourselves.

When you have a list of things to do, stick to the list and finish each task in turn.  It is all to common to start on a task and get distracted and go do something else.  This is a bad habit to get into.  It quickly escalates.  You go off to do the thing that distracted you and get distracted again.  When you allow yourself to fall into this trap, you can use up all the time you have to get things done and find that you haven't gotten anything done!  You need to start with a reasonable list and stick to the list.  If you allow yourself to get distracted, even once, you have set a pattern that will likely repeat itself ad infinitum.  If you discover additional tasks that need to be done, add them to the list rather than running after them and losing your momentum on completing the tasks on your original list.

One of the greatest risks of not completing a task once you've started it is that it may never get done.  Having done "most of it" you may mentally cross it off your list or you may simply forget what remained to be completed.  If it is interrupted due to lack of tools or parts, it may be some time before your get what you need to finish the job.  By then you may have a whole new list of things to do.  All too often, parts or tools you need will disappear by the time you get around to completing the job, adding a lot of unnecessary frustrating and additional delay and expense.  It is very frustrating and a great time waster when you return to a delayed task and discover you don't remember where you were, where  you put things, or what you needed to do next!

With modern cell phone technology we can easily take photos of our projects.  "Before" photos can be very helpful when attempting to complete a delayed project.  If you must delay a project, document where things are and what remains to be done, including photos if practical.

There's nothing worse than getting to the end of the day and looking back on having accomplished nothing.  On the other hand, it is very satisfying to be able to cross off the list of things you got done and look back on a job well done!

Get 'er done!