Returning to an old project

Sometimes projects have to be put on hiatus. Other things get in the way. Focus can shift over time. I end up returning to old stuff pretty often, so I’ve written down the set of questions I use to re-approach paused projects.

Why am I looking at this project again?

• Am I just reminiscing?
• Do I just want to look at it again for a while before I have to go work on other things?
• Do I want to remind myself of what I get to work on soon, to help me get through what I’m working on now?
• Do I want to recycle some of this project to use for something else?
• Do I intend to continue working on the project now?

What was my progress on this project?

• What was the project about?
• What was the goal of the project?
• How did I go about accomplishing the goal previously?
• How far did I get towards accomplishing that goal?
• Do I still want to accomplish the original goal, or is there a new goal I’d rather pursue?

How will I complete this project?

• How much time would I like to devote to this work?
• How much time can I actually devote to this work?
• How will I schedule my allocated time?
• Are there any external motivators that might help me finish the project?
• Do I need any help completing the project?