Holiday Crafting . . . and lists

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Yeah, that’s what I should be doing¦.holiday crafting. *looks over checklist* I’ve had MONTHS to finish these things¦and yet here I am, a Christmas celebrator, with just over a week left, and I still have MILES of crafting to finish.

*sigh*

It happens this way every year. I have lists. I have ideas. I have supplies¦.or at least lists of supplies¦ Then come¦.oh, say, December 4^th¦.I realize I have NOTHING done, and only 3 weeks left to finish it all!!! And in some cases, less than that!!!

*weeps*

Okay, yeah, that’s a bit overdramatic. But I know there are several of you sitting there reading this, now thinking about the things you should be doing, that don’t include reading things on the internet (but I’m not going to tell, so keep reading). And before you start getting into panic mode with the overwhelming-ness of it all, I suggest you sit, have a chocolate frog, and get a quill out.

*waits while you read the chocolate frog card*

Seriously, I’m about the hand over my secret to EVERYTHING here¦.

*leans forward and whispers*

Lists.

*waits for reaction, only hears a faint buzz of wrackspurts*

Okay, so it’s not so¦.WOW¦and it even seems ¦.dull. But I’ll tell you, what I can accomplish with a LIST is so much more than without! But not only that, I make lists of lists, and sometimes outline my lists too!!!

Once I have that, I kinda make these little silly accomplishment goals. Stop scratching your head, this is amazing stuff.

Alright, let’s say I have 3 projects to work on. One’s started, one is a small project and the last is a bit more complicated. I’ll draw up my first list, this is my priority list (what needs to be done when). Then, I mentally figure out how much time each thing needs and how much I can during my next “free” time. Sometimes, it’s not about starting and finishing one project before doing the next, but figuring out what to get done when.

Let’s say I have an hour of craft time, I can do 10 rows of a blanket, make a small toy, or start a new complicated project that I’m eager for results on. A lot of time, I will make the small toy first, as it can be completed in under an hour (for me), then I feel like I got something done, rather than just getting further. And if I’m a good girl, and I go fast enough, I have time to get a small toy finished, then maybe get some time in, too, on another project before I have to do something non-crafty.

Plus there’s just something so satisfactory about striking something off a to-do list, doncha know¦.

Now, you may question why I would waste my time making lists, when I could spend that time crafting. Simple. My brain is made of swiss cheese. I am forever forgetting things. A list keeps me organized and helps me remember. But also, lists can be made at any time¦. My lists actually are usually headed with “To Do Tonight”. I make them during my breaks at work, or when there’s a bit of downtime where I have a second or two to write something down¦.just so I can strike it out later¦

There’s also the goal-achieving silliness too. I make little goals. Things like, “go home” and “make snack.” These make my lists go faster and I get to feel accomplished. The rewards are sometimes beyond silly things like getting to a certain row on a project before I can refresh Twitter. Like I said, silly. But I still get to scratch it off my list.

So, lemme ask YOU LOT! How do you keep on task to get things done? Do you make lists or can you keep track without? Tell us! Comments are all kinds of love!

Comptely lost for sleep, will dream of lists¦

Amber