Superthinking

I'm not much of a project manager. I reckon it's because I (generally) think abstractly and so end up planning a task for way too long and, even then, too rigidly. I don't take account of any variables other than the ideal ones - which is especially problematic when dealing with other people (since human nature is so unpredictable).

It's why it takes me so long to start development from scratch too, since I need to have a fine grasp of the whole design/architecture before I can begin to write anything. The same sometimes applies to creating the articles here, but if anything writing proves that if I at least start a job I stand a much better chance of finishing it.

As I gain experience and age it is something I'm becoming better at. Time constraints don't allow me to plan too much so I don't, and growing patience and understanding are helping me to tolerate the shortcomings of life, myself and other humans. I've begun to view tasks like a bungee jump: commit to that first step and then let gravity take the task to completion.

Right now I'm helping to organise a BBQ at a supplementary school I've been teaching at. I'm supposed to be organising the activities for the children to do when they're not stuffing their faces - something which seemed like a monster of a task when I had reluctantly volunteered for it (and I did write a few lists and one list-of-lists before I had made my first phonecall). However, now that I'm in the middle of it and the end goal is beginning to take shape, I'm wondering what the fuss was all about.

I guess the moral here is that at times it's better to just DO something since you may finish a task in the time it takes you to put yourself in a position you think you need to begin it. And superthinking (a made up word describing those thought processes where you wonder why you're doing something, if you're doing it the right way and how unfair life is for putting you in a particular position) is just unnecessary, unhelpful and a big fat waste of time.

The more astute of you may have realised that this doesn't just apply to programming or events management, but many other parts of everyday life - and possibly even life itself. Many people are scared of getting new jobs, forming new relationships or raising a family. Most, if not all, handle these things pretty well in the long run without even faltering. Some don't even realise the great things they manage to accomplish.

But going back to the simpler, more tangible things, I guess my stance is now to "just do it and get it over with". Chances are it's not that difficult anyway.