It’s the start of a new work season, and I’m kicking it off with a fresh approach. It’s not exactly a project, but rather a method or a new way of working that I’m calling “Phases.”

At its core, Phases is a simple concept. Instead of dealing with large, open-ended projects, I group smaller tasks into a “phase.” Each phase is given a name that signifies its goal or purpose. Once all tasks within a phase are completed, I can move on to the next phase (with a little celebratory break in between).

The second element of Phases involves writing by hand. I use whatever pen or pencil I have available, but I always write in the same inexpensive A4 notebook. It needs to be cheap so I don’t get too attached to it, which might prevent me from actually using it. A4 is simply the format that feels most natural to me. I also keep a printout of the current phase’s task list glued into the notebook.

The final part of the system is simply to “write every day.” It doesn’t have to be much, it doesn’t have to be perfect, and it doesn’t even need to build on what I wrote the previous day. The key is to open the notebook daily and write.

The reason behind this system is that I work best with projects that have a clear beginning, end, and manageable tasks in between. However, I struggle with more open-ended projects like “write a short story” or “write every day.” Phases provides both the goals and the tasks that lead to those goals. If I get stuck, I can simply switch to another task within the current phase.

So why go analog? Mainly to remove any obstacles that might make it less likely for me to write. Pen and paper are easier to grab and start using than powering up a computer.

The first phase is “Phase 1 – Dare to Write.” I’m a few days in, and so far, so good.

I believe this could be a really effective way of working for me. We’ll see how it goes.