How to finish everything you start

This year, I decided not to make any New Year's resolutions simply because I have not completed many of last year's, and I believe that I am not alone. According to a study from Columbia University, only about 25 per cent of people stay committed to their resolutions after 30 days and less than 10 per cent accomplish their goals. This made me think: Why do so many of us struggle to finish what we start?

For some, the answer can be explained by the different distractions of modern life. Emails, social media and countless obligations fragment our attention, leaving little room for sustained effort on any single task.

The book ‘How to Finish Everything You Start’ by Jan Yager suggests that the core challenges to completing our projects are not just external interruptions but also internal behaviours such as fear of failure, fear of success and over commitment. When we spread ourselves too thin, or let the fear of not being perfect hold us back, our projects languish unfinished, leading to mounting frustration both personally and professionally.

The author suggests that a critical first step towards finishing what we start is reflecting on our habits.

Ask yourself: Are you overcommitting? Do you often get distracted or allow perfectionism to slow you down? Recognising these patterns is essential to transforming your approach. Instead of setting an overwhelming list of tasks, the advice is to focus on a single priority.

This method, encapsulated in the simple yet effective acronym FINISH, offers a road map by Focusing on one key task at a time rather than juggling multiple projects, ignoring interruptions from frequent phone checks to unnecessary emails by setting clear boundaries to reduce.

Now is the time to do it. So no more procrastination. Initiate strategies such as timers and rewards to jump-start progress. Stay on steady efforts even when the going gets tough. And finally hail and celebrate every completed task, regardless of size, to build momentum.

The author also highlights the role of effective goal-setting in completing tasks. By defining goals with precision — using frameworks like SMART (Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Realistic and Time-related) — you transform vague aspirations into actionable targets.

Coupled with prioritisation tools such as the Time Management Matrix and Pareto’s 80/20 rule, you can identify the tasks that truly drive your progress. For example, rather than simply vowing to ‘be more productive,’ set a clear objective like ‘complete the market analysis report by Friday at 5 pm.’

An additional, often overlooked skill is learning to say no. Overcommitting is a major roadblock to productivity. Politely declining requests that do not align with your priorities allows you to channel your energy towards the projects that matter most. This isn’t about shutting doors — it’s about protecting your time and ensuring that your commitments are sustainable.

In the end, finishing is not about ticking off every single task on your list. It’s about making intentional choices: deciding what to finish and, equally important, what to quit. By recognising your limits and focusing on what truly matters, you can transform the chaos of modern distractions into a structured pathway to achievement. This year, consider a new resolution — not to start everything, but to finish what counts.