This is a tip I have to remind myself with regularly: Take time to plan your project before diving in.
It may seem obvious, but with all the tools we have at our fingertips these days, it’s easy to dive in on a creative project without planning it out ahead of time. Sometimes, we actually turn out something fun and interesting, but the more specific the goals of a project, the easier it is to lose sight of the goal without some amount planning.
At first glance planning takes extra time… or so it seems. And yes, making lists, drawing sketches and research does take extra time. However, from years of experience, I can tell you with confidence that the time you spend planning the specifics of a project with a list of goals will save much more time than the planning takes.
Let’s face it. Most of the decisions made during a planning session will need to be made at some point along the way anyway. Having everything organized spares resetting one’s mindset every time a new discovery is made. Doing a little research and learning the ins and outs of a particular direction before taking it can save hours of backtracking and re-doing.