It can be hard to stop once you get on a roll with something. One of the lessons writing my dissertation taught me was that there is a point where you need to say “enough.” Yes, there is more research I could have included, but once you make a well-crafted argument, it’s time to wrap it up.
I thought of this while working on a final report for an 8-month project I have been doing. The challenge was condensing 170 interviews, a binder full of research, and untold websites into a readable and actionable report. I could have written a book or stayed at it for another 8 months but (fortunately) there was a deadline and the need to synthesize the data into a concise report. Enough.
I see that in many other cases today. Someone has lost weight but they become obsessed with further loss and exercise almost to the point of being unhealthy. An artist refines and refines their work instead of calling it finished. A DIY-er starts with wallpaper, then adds paint, and pillows, and lamps, and art, and… Enough!
I’m not advocating for being sloppy or skimpy, but rather to realize when it is time to stop. “Done” is a relative term.
