This blog post is a quick hit-and-run entry that poses a question and a possible answer. I’d like to hear your thoughts on the subject.
To you workaholics, here’s my conundrum: why do we put off doing the fun things in favor of doing the hard or unpleasant tasks – even though the fun stuff is on our to-do lists and has deadlines? I’ll wait while you ponder this. Imagine that I am humming the theme to Jeopardy…
Seriously, this is an important question. I’ve talked to other productive, relaxation-challenged people and they share this malady. So, take your time and think on it. The world would be a better place if some of us could have more fun. Okay, I mean if I could have more fun.
Give up? Okay, here’s my theory. I think I feel guilty when I do something fun. How twisted is that?! Today, I decided to reacquaint myself with my sewing machine. Those of you on Facebook may have seen that intention in my status update. I love my sewing machine. I love to sew. I am, after all, a professional quilter and that does involve sewing. And so, why was there a layer of stuff accumulating on top of my sewing machine?
I did get to sew today. I put the binding on a quilted laptop case I designed out of fabric I love, love, love. The project has been languishing for over a month, gathering dust and hurling guilt darts at me whenever I walk by. I have wanted to work on this ever since I bought the fabric; that’s the heck of it. While I worked on it today, I thought of all the other things I “should” have been doing.
So…a new resolution. Guilt is unproductive. In fact, it’s the enemy of productivity. A happy quilter (me, after doing something fun for just a little while) is a more productive quilter.
And so, I resolve to do something fun every day. I guess I need to make sure there’s more fun stuff on my to-do list. Hmm, where’s my pen?
Firstly, nice laptop case you got goin’ on there!
As for the guilty quilty thing (groan), I can certainly relate to it albeit from the opposite direction. My thing is that I want to have fun to the exclusion of all else, including the “shoulds”. Perhaps the necklace you gave me and that I adore says it all: balance. Ultimately, it’s all about balance.
Thanks! The laptop case is now done except for a closure. I’ll probably just add some Velcro, but I could limp along without it and be just as happy.
That balance thing is an elusive little bugger. With our current situation, I feel like I should only do things that will move us forward, that will ultimately generate income. Ah, guilt is a powerful thing. Maybe I should make myself one of those necklaces as a reminder…
I find that if I did the fun stuff first, I wouldn’t get the drudgery stuff done. Besides, if I make myself do the “chores”, then I get them done faster just so I can get to the fun stuff.
Nice laptop case. Can’t wait to see it up close.
Jane
Thanks, Jane. All the case needs now is a closure. I’m thinking velcro so that it slides into my briefcase nicely.
So what do you do when there are too many chores to allow you to get to the fun stuff? Therein lies my issue. I need fewer chores or I need a housekeeper and an administrative assistant. I’ll work on that.
It’s definitely the shoulds that can get you..the little bits of guilt wrapped up into the ’should’…
For me, if I don’t do the little chores, there isn’t anyone else to do them..so I have to.
BUT, I have become a little more ‘relaxed’ about doing them. Many times, I’ll try and save all of the ’straightening up stuff’ for Friday afternoons – as far as possible, that’s also the grocery/ pet store designated day – so that I have all day Saturday and Sunday to do what I ‘want’ to do…(well, during the school year, Sunday afternoons are for studying as well.)
My issue is that while I’d like to work on quilting or just sewing some squares together or something in the studio, after sitting in traffic I’m usually beat – and, as mentioned before, I haven’t figured out the trick to separating the dramas of the ‘work world’ from the rejuvenating spirits of the studio – particularly when work is fairly creative as well, just not necessarily ‘artisticly’ creative. Sometimes, my brain is just tired.
I’ve started exercising again and I’m hoping that is going to help. I’ve been trying to think ‘young’ thoughts instead of the ‘crap I’m forty, not married, have three diseased and spoiled cats, and look like I’m 30 so people don’t always take me seriously’ – but as you see, it’s not easy to do!
I’m going to attempt to work smaller rather than larger and do something even if I don’t think I can. (I’m thinking on that Sunflower thing – I keep seeing them EVERYWHERE now, but I have some cool ideas for some techniques to try. I’ve been considering working in 26″ squares and then sewing them all together, but I’m still drawing some stuff out on paper to give it a whirl.)
I’m supposed to hang with Kathye G. (one of the Therabees – and I think that she’s in your class now??) at some point and work on some fabric buttons – I’ve been really wanting to try those since I read about them in that collage book.
Oh..and I got that fabric scraps or leftovers book or whatever it’s called…and that looks pretty good too! It’s got some neat ideas for using that latch hook rug stuff as backing for panels. Neat stuff.
I guess my real issue is that I want to try so many things that I get stuck, go round and round and end up doing nothing because I don’t know where to start.
Plus, I don’t have an excuse or enough money to retire and do what I want! (This whole home ownership thing really is a money pit!)
So, if you figure it all out, please let me in on the secret!
~jenstm
If I knew the secret, I’d bottle and sell it! Um, after I shared it with you!
Pick small goals. And think about how to bribe yourself to go down into your studio. Seriously, bribes work.