New Rule

I've been having issues with my crafty to do list just growing and growing. It's now bulging at the seams! I have so many projects that I want to work on, but "no time" to do everything.

There are tons of legitimate non-crafty tasks that consume much of my day (running around after a toddler, working out, cooking, cleaning {sometimes}, grocery shopping, business stuff, etc.). Even though I have legitimate time-consuming things to do, I also know that I waste way too much time on random time-sucks, like Pinterest (finding more things to add to my crafty to do list!) and watching TV - usually those two together.

I know I can't give myself crafting deadlines or schedule specific times to craft each day, but I did institute a new rule for myself. If I'm watching TV, I have to be doing something crafty (or for my shop) at the same time. Out with surfing Pinterest and stalking people on Facebook. In with sewing, designing, cross stitching, blogging, sketching, etc.

If I can hold myself to my new rule, I should be able to get more crafting done, finish new designs for the shop more quickly, and be better about blogging more frequently.

I'm watching TV and blogging right now, so I guess that's a good start!  :)

In Need of a 12-Step Program

I love lists. I'm a master list-maker. If there was a job where all you had to do was make lists and then list out all of the lists you made, I would be a shoe-in. I have lists that have sub-lists. I am addicted to color-coding my lists (which is a sickness itself). I have lists in multiple locations, some of which list the same things as other lists. When Apple added the Reminders app to iPhone, I was excited because I could have all of my lists with me wherever I go.

My top ten best (longest) lists are for:

• General Crap To Do
• Things To Buy (separated by store)
• Things To Return
• Gift Ideas
• Crafts To Make
• Reviews To Write (for Amazon)
• Blog Posts To Write
• Deep Cleaning List (separated out by frequency of cleaning - weekly/monthly/seasonally)
• Home Improvements To Make (separated out by room/zone)
• My ever-lengthening Shop To Do List.

Whew! Uh oh. I just realized that is another list of lists.  :-/

If only list-making resulted in actually getting stuff done. By the time I pull out my list(s), cross off the very minimal amount of items I have completed and re-evaluate what's left, I don't have time to actually do anything on the list! I think list-making might be the ultimate procrastination technique. You get to put off actually doing work by thinking about all the work you have to do. Maybe it's time for a mid-year resolution.