keep going guide · 5 min
How many active projects should you have?
Limit active commitments enough to finish work without pretending life contains only one priority.
Published August 3, 2026
NoticeDecideDo
There is no magic number. The useful limit is the number of projects that can each receive a real next action this week. Naming ten projects “active” does not create time for ten projects.
For most people, that is fewer than the number they have named. Try this:
- Pick one or two projects that must move now.
- Keep a small number of maintenance projects visible.
- Move every other legitimate project to later, with a review date.
“Later” is not abandonment. It is an honest statement that a project cannot receive attention today.
If every project stays active, none has a clear claim on your time. Limiting active work is how you make finishing possible.