It’s easy to avoid getting started on a project because we think we need tons of time — and we never have tons of time! But we can break even the loftiest goals into smaller steps. For example, “financial planning” may be a big scary goal, but we can break it down… 1) comparing checking account interest rates may be a handful of days for 10 minutes each; 2) refinancing the mortgage may take several days of collecting documents, etc. Little by little…
If you have a goal and you’d like help breaking it down into 10-minute steps, post it here. I — and I hope other readers — will brainstorm some ideas…
I have so many areas of my life where I try to do more than one thing and never have time to do what I love. I love to Quilt, however there iis never time to do that. Every thing is ready , however by the time I finish my day it is to late to start anything other than eat dinner , shower and go to bed. Oh did I mention I am 75 years old. I really think I used to be able to take care of 4 sons and work plus take care of a home. Come to think of it I really never got time to read a book or any thing I enjoyed. Help Please.
Hi, Ruby! Thanks so much for writing. I feel the same way — when I tell myself I’ll do something once I’ve gotten everything else done for the day, I never seem to have the time or energy for it. The most sure-fire way I’ve found to get something done is to do it first thing in the morning — getting up just a little early to do it. At first you won’t want to get up early. But once you’re in a rhythm of doing the thing you love, you may feel differently — and the rest of your day may go better since you started off with a fun thing.
Once the day gets under way, there are no guarantees that you’ll find the time, but you stand a good chance if you wedge it in between two obligations. Instead of thinking of it as downtime between one thing and another, actually schedule quilting. If we schedule things that are less exciting like grocery shopping or changing the oil in the car, don’t we at least deserve to schedule something we actually CARE about?
I’d suggest thinking of the next three days and thinking about when you’ll quilt, even if only for 15 minutes. I bet you’ll find a way to find more time, but just start with that.
Does this help at all, Ruby? I hope so. If not, please let me know and we’ll keep working at it…