Project Focus

[Ran The Cid]

Attach each project to a public goal - be it a Tournament army, a convention demo game, or game night with the guys/club.  Depending on how you react to pressure and commitments, you can either sign up for the public goal and use it to push on a large project; or you can keep the goal secret until you are very nearly done and use it for a slow motivator over the months (years) leading up to the public announcement. 

[tikitang]

Like Sunjester, I generally don't maintain focus on a project. However, I only work on one project at a time, and I try to ensure the required miniatures for the project are small in total number, so it feels manageable. A good mark for me is: can I fit all the miniatures for the project on my office window-sill? If not, it's too large.

[modelwarrior]

I always make a list the day before of what I need to do next. Its the only way I stay on track otherwise I drift and buy stuff

[jon_1066]

Try not to get little bits here and there that don't allow a game without being added to.  So other than ordering maybe some test figures go into something such that you have enough to actually fight a battle.  Whether that is sufficient for a Frostgrave warband or a 6mm army, make sure you have a self contained force that doesn't need more figures to actually use.

Make sure you are not starting too many projects at once. eg I started a 6 mm Napoleonics project and worked on that initially with no distractions form any "ooh shiny"

Once you start try and get enough for a game.  So don't do all of one side then all of the other.  Start with a small scenario in mind and get the forces and terrain for that ready.  Once you have that you can expand gradually to your end goal. eg I got the Napoleonics to a state that could fight Tugen Hausen with woods, buildings and a stream.  I'm still working towards Aspern Esseling (and Wagram?)

Try and build on already existing projects.  So if you have a bunch of scenery in a particular scale can you use some of it for a different period or conflict?  eg I chose to start a 6 mm WW2 project because I had nearly all the terrain for it already.

Some of your projects can be quick and dirty.  eg I decided the 6 mm WW2 would be painted in the broadest brush strokes possible and not to the detail of the Napoleonics.  So whilst my Austrian Hussars might be sporting mustaches my German infantry were the vaguest grey figures with a black wash and hands and faces picked out only.

Think long and hard before pressing the button on a new project.  Leave the things in your basket for a week.  If you are still keen after that then go for it.

Try and tie in with others.  Join a club and see what they are doing.  Quite often you can get motivation to finish something for a particular game or be inspired to collect some figures for a campaign.

Can your existing figures be used for different rule sets?  Sometimes it's not the period but the rules you don't enjoy so you lose your enthusiasm.  Can those figures be used for something else?  eg by purchasing some metal sabots my Napoleonics suddenly allowed larger battles to be fought using Blucher giving the figures another lease of life.

Don't sell painted figures.  Just because you have left 40K behind you never know.  In five years time you might be in a club and a Stargrave campaign gets underway.  Suddenly you have a head start for your crew and with just a couple of new figures you are ready to go.

Rules are usually relatively cheap so don't be frightened to buy the rules for a project first.  Try rules out with cardboard cut outs or pennies.  If you don't like them you can always sell them.  Rules also don't take any time to paint.

PS - Try and get some drugs for your ADHD - they really can help!

[Davout]

I find that having an event (large game, convention, tournament) in the future helps keep me focused. My friends and I have been planning a big game featuring the new GW Legions Imperialis models (the new version of Epic). The deadline ha helped me not flit between projects this summer.

I also find that if I build it and prime it, it gets painted way faster then if the models are still in the box/on the sprue.

Like many others have said, don't feel bad for switching it up. I usually work on multiple projects over the course of a year. Helps keep things fresh and I'm never bored.

[Phil Robinson]

I have no problem focusing on a project, all six in fact

[Khusru2]

I used to concentrate on one army until the figures were all painted and based. Usually that would be one unit of 12-30 figures at a time. As I moved to various skirmish type games when I order figures I finish them. These orders are less than 20 generally. More postage costs but better time management. But, instead of  long painting sessions of 1+ hours I now do short painting spells 15-25 minutes. I finish what I've ordered. For many, the pile is what disrupts the focus and a loss of motivation IMHO. In short. Buy less and finish them before ordering more.

[armchairgeneral]

Lots of great advice already said.

Keeping the focus for me I try to keep reading books on the period. The research is one of the things I really enjoy about the hobby.

Also just keep on the painting table the current project and tidy the others away. But the hobby is meant to be fun so no worries if another project takes precedence. Just put the other one away if that happens. Lots of unfinished projects on my painting table would bother me so I try to avoid this.

[Digits]

I jump about and often go back to projects as and when when I get an idea.   An itch that needs scratching.  I don’t get to play as often as I’d like….but I was always the most focused when having a regular games group / night.

[eilif]

I've also got ADHD AND allot of projects.

After a couple decades of gaming, almost the only thing that consistently gets a big project done is the looming deadline of a campaign or special club game or putting on a convention game.

When others enjoyment our my own embarrassment are on the line things are much more likely to get done.

[Elbows]

I'm sure most of this has been covered, but my simple advice is:

1) Keep everything packaged and only open what you're about to paint.  This means if you abandon a project, you have new-in-box stuff you can sell off.  This is coupled with part two.

2) Only assemble and paint one unit at a time, to determine how motivated/interested you really are in a project.  If you follow point one, and get two units in and lose all interest...either shelve it for a bit, or move on to other things.

3) Never assemble a whole army/big unit prior to painting, etc.  Unless you're a master at batch painting, you can easily intimidate yourself out of painting/sitting down at the paint desk.  It's difficult enough to find time to paint for most people...but painting Soldier 001...while Soldiers 002-120 sit on the table ahead of you will absolutely murder your motivation/enthusiasm.

4) Complete small batches of models.  Decide how many models you can paint during a sitting.  I can personally "stomach" 3-6 generally...anything beyond that and it takes more than one or two sessions and I hate not finishing stuff rapidly.  Even if you have a 30 man unit...and you paint three models per session.  In a couple weeks the 30 models will be done.  You can use the completed minis as motivation for the others in the unit.  It's the opposite of point three.  Instead of a wall of grey plastic intimidating you, it's a small painted section which is cheerleading.

5) If you really struggle with ADHD/projects...analyze yourself.  What have you successfully done?  Can you do larger, or should you do smaller?  If you struggle with focus, completing tasks...simply don't play Napoleonics or large army games which require 1,200 painted miniatures and horses.  Be honest with yourself and stick to games and projects which you can actually complete and enjoy.

6) Most people can't carry out a 3-5 year project...let alone if you're struggling to focus/concentrate.  So...don't do those.  Design small goals and achieve them.  A lot of people have eyes bigger than their stomachs when it comes to hobby goals/projects, etc.  Be honest with yourself and stop chasing stuff you're never going to finish.  Don't set yourself up for failure.

7) I find one key motivator for me is having a blog and/or threads and posts on places like Facebook.  While I've never once had someone tell me "Hey, did you complete that army you started on your blog?" --- it's my own tracking system.  I feel bad if I sign into my hobby blog and see I haven't posted anything for a month, etc.  Similar to tournaments/events/games...a hobby log (in any form) can serve as internal motivation.  On top of that...it's pretty damn cool to go back through your own blog and see what you accomplished.

[Easy E]

Good comments about the size of what is on your table. 

I am a pretty accomplished batch painter, and have batch-painted 50+ models at once.  However, not everyone can manage that.  Keep out and assembled only what you can realistically get finished. 

I can do 50+ at a time, but I generally keep it to 2 units for any given project at a time. Those are more manageable chunks.