I was thinking about something the other day. Working from home, being my own boss, really is the perfect situation for me. I have the flexibility to be available for my kids when they need me to be, I can adapt my own schedule to fit what happens in our lives and at our home. I can run out to pick up kids from school, it's great!
However, I have also begun to realize that it's very easy to put the needs of my own "work" on the back burner. Before I even realize it, a whole list of things can be listed in front of just getting into the studio and writing, pattern writing, or creating new ideas. It's my tendency to put everyone's needs before mine...for a long time, all the creative work I do has been a hobby, something I did to relax and "get away".
Sound familiar? No specific thing or person is at fault (other than myself). I have created a few tricks to help me get focused. Nothing profound, but nonetheless helpful.
*I have a deadline for any big project I do. I don't let things just linger on and on. An unfinished project either goes into the "finish it by this date" or it goes into a pile to finish at some point (if I like it) and I move on. Lingering on projects only creates more lingering in my world. It takes up valuable creative space in my head. I would much rather push forward. By creating a deadline, even one that I make up myself, helps me focus on what needs to be done first, then next, then so on.
*All these deadlines, whether given to me or made up by me, are written down, in my calendar, and they're all treated as real. No exceptions.
*Pre-planning things like meals are a life saver. I'm reminding myself of this one right now. As I am typing this, you should know that I didn't plan for our meals this week and last night came around finding me gathering together some different "something" for each of us. This always makes me cranky. I realize it's entirely unnecessary with forethought. Slow cooker, prepping food on Sunday for the week, a week in a day, whatever works is worth the effort.
I would love you guys to chime in on this. Do you struggle with this, have you solutions?
