Why I Struggle to Finish Things

This is a personal reflection on why I keep jumping from one project to another without finishing — driven by excitement, perfectionism, and Shiny Object Syndrome. I explore the mindset behind it and share the small but practical changes I’m making to finally break the cycle and follow through.

I’ve started countless projects with an almost irrational level of excitement. Whether it’s a new app, a side hustle, a tech experiment, or a passion-fueled idea, I dive in headfirst — grinding day and night for a solid 4 or 5 days. And then… it fades.

The energy? Gone.
The focus? Scattered.
The project? Unfinished.

Instead of wrapping up what I started, I get pulled into the next exciting idea — the "new shiny thing."

✨ The Shiny Object Syndrome Is Real

If you've never heard of it, Shiny Object Syndrome (SOS) is what happens when we constantly chase new ideas or opportunities — not because they’re better, but because they’re new. It's the dopamine hit of potential. It feels productive at first — brainstorming, building, designing — but eventually derails real progress.

Honestly, I’ve been stuck in this loop for a while.

💭 Why Does This Happen?

After reflecting on my patterns, here’s what I’ve learned:

• Starting is easy. Finishing is hard.
  The beginning of a project is full of inspiration. Finishing it requires discipline, consistency, and often doing the boring stuff.

• I confuse excitement with progress.
  When the novelty wears off, I assume the project isn’t worth pursuing — even if it actually is.

• I fear imperfection.
  Maybe I avoid finishing because finishing means showing it to the world — and that brings judgment, criticism, or worse, indifference.

• I lack a system.
  Without structure or a workflow, everything falls apart once the initial motivation fades.

• I get bored.
  The more time I spend on a project, the more tired I become of its UI, concept, or even the idea itself.

💪 What I’m Doing Differently

I'm still figuring it out, but here are a few changes I’m making:

• One project at a time.
  No matter how tempting it is, I won’t jump to a new idea until I’ve finished or officially dropped the current one.

• Build boring habits.
  Motivation is temporary — habits last. I’m training myself to show up daily, especially when it’s not fun.

• Lower the pressure.
  Not every project has to be a game-changer. Sometimes, just finishing something is the real win.

• Use public accountability.
  Sharing progress online, telling friends, or writing blog posts like this keeps me more committed.

• Keep a simple log.
  I now track what I’ve done, what’s left, and what’s blocking me. Surprisingly effective.

I’ve been stuck in this loop for years, chasing newness and abandoning progress. But I'm trying to be more mindful of the patterns, and more intentional about breaking them. I don’t have all the answers. I might still stumble. But if I can finish just one project — even if it’s small, even if it’s messy — that’s a win. And maybe that’s how I’ll finally break the cycle. One imperfect, finished project at a time.

I actually finished this blog project — which feels like a huge win. I’ve started it two or three times before but never saw it through. This time, I did. And I’m genuinely happy about that.I want to make this a habit now. One project at a time.