Lists, Lists, and More Lists!
Posted on January 3, 2022 by prairiemoonquilts in ListsI’m a list maker. I love my lists. And I have lots of them!
I make new ones every month, but at the start of a new year, I always make more. And I usually have way grander ideas of what I can get done than what I can actually accomplish!
In addition to new lists this year, I’m also adapting to a new work schedule. Back before I broke my elbow last September, I was working 10-14 hours a day, plus weekends, and breaking my elbow made me realize that I need to slow down. My grandmother always said: “If you don’t slow down when you need to, life will find a way to slow you down.” She sure nailed that one!
So I’ve greatly adjusted my schedule so that I now have evenings and weekends off, and I’m not agonizing over having to take off during the week for things that come up (like physical therapy appointments). Given the fact that I have a lot of trouble sitting still, however, that IS affording me lots of chair time in the evenings for handwork, and for lack of much else to do, I spend weekends working on my own stuff, or whatever I want to (like remodeling this old house). It also gives me more time to spend with My Cowboy (poor guy), and relieves a lot of stress from overdoing it all the time.
And for the first time in forever, I took completely off the week between Christmas and New Year’s, and just did whatever I wanted to, in my studio, or not!
I spent some of that time on my new lists.
Last year, I joined in on the American Patchwork & Quilting UFO Challenge, and failed miserably. So this year, I decided to make the list a bit more realistic — I only included projects on it that need quilting and binding. So they’re all from the list of closest-to-finished projects that I have, which should help a lot, right?
Here is last year’s list and this year’s side by side for comparison:
You can join in on this challenge HERE, if you’re interested.
And I generally make myself a list of 12 other things I want to get done in my studio for the year, and here is last year’s list, again pretty much a fail:
So I’m trying it again, carrying some things over, and adding some other things. At the moment, they seem realistic, but by March, they may only seem ridiculous!
As usual, this list is a PDF download you can have for free if you want. Get it here: 2022ProjectList
It’s also time once again for a 100 Days List, so I made a new one of those. You can read more about that HERE, if you’re interested. I only finished 26 of my last 100, so I’m certainly trying to beat that record in the next 100 days.
I have trouble guessing what things are realistic, and way over-estimating how much I can get done, or how long something will take me. So we’ll once again see what happens!
Basically, I’m learning to relax a bit more, and not worry so much about what gets done and what doesn’t. As long as I’m working on it, things will move forward, and that’s all I can do. Maybe I bumped my head harder than I thought when I fell!
I know a lot of you were making lists during The Final Countdown, so I wish us all the best of luck at getting our projects checked off! (That’s the fun part — getting things checked off the list!)
As for the broken elbow update, all I can say is: it’s not healing well. Yesterday marked the 4-month date, and I still have a fairly limited range of motion, zero strength, and still quite a bit of pain. I feel like I stalled at the 2-month mark, and I’m losing hope that I can get much better from here. But . . . I’m still going to physical therapy, still doing the exercises, and learning to adapt to doing lots of things left-handed permanently. And trying to keep a positive attitude about it, and the frustration tantrums to a minimum!
Your grandmother was so right – found that out for myself too and like you the frustrations of not being able to do things while the brain is working perfectly well . . . apart from memory now and again like what did I come in here for . . . so the planner has been downloaded for sewing and I may make use of it for the homestead too. Thank you and I hope to get around to finishing at least one quilt this month!
When I had pneumonia 7 years ago I thought at the one year mark I was as good as I would ever get. I am so glad I was wrong. Don’t give up on yourself or on the healing process. It takes a long time sometimes.
You are right on track about taking time for yourself.
When I sort of retired I decided to work on things for myself in the evenings and on weekends. Guilt free.
But I also take off time for family & friends when I choose.
Hang in there, Shelly
I too am a list maker & it helps keep me on track. I try to put them down the way i want to work on them. Did over 80% on 2021. I have to forgive myself if i fail but the challenge is good. I try to be specific but leave room for things that pop up like maple leaves (need to decide what to make with them) or maybe just keep making them. Hope you get over your elbow plateau and enjoy your ‘down’ time.
Sorry to hear about the elbow. A friend told me when I broke my arm that it would likely take 2 years to be as good as it gets. I was so glad for that advice. I am back to fully what I was. But it did take way more than the 6 to 12 months I was thinking.
Hang in there.
Like the other comments, I’ll also encourage you to hang in there. When I broke my leg (thought it was a sprained ankle at first) I didn’t think I’d ever be able to go up and down stairs like I used to. Today I was thinking about how nice it is to go up and down stairs like normal. It took me a good strong year or so to get there. So be patient, and keep doing what you’re doing!
Wish your arm was doing better for you. Parts not working right is for the birds. Do we have a list to keep track of our blocks on?
First let me say that your hopeful attitude will help you more than you know. I hope that you still have more healing waiting to take place over time. That said, enjoy your down time and pamper yourself as much and as often as required.
About that UFO Challenge from APQ, when I printed off a dozen sheets in 2021, I didn’t envision printing new sheets every year. I’ve listed all my UFOs, each with it’s “before” status and then I revise it after it’s complete. The project pages, which I organized according to type of quilt/project keep me motivated and I’ll just keep working on them and updating the status. I’m good with that 🙂
I just figured out where the form is for all the different months.
I have already started my Christmas list for this year. It will before we know it. That way I have enough time for the quilts I want to get done. I like to be done by Thanksgiving. Happy list making.
Shelly are you doing 350 blocks this year?
I know you are frustrated. I had COVID in May and am still recovering. I honestly didn’t think anything would change and this past month I saw an improvement. I’m hopeful, once again. Give yourself time. In the meantime, take all the time you need for yourself!
I have learned that as well take time to smell the roses….or at least take time for yourself……
I do take time for myself and do what I want so that is a good thing…..
I am ready for the new year and I need to get my list going and see where my sewing will take me
I make a list at the start of the year of UFO’s and it keeps me grounded. I surprised myself by making a list of finished quilts and I didn’t think I had completed that many this past year.
Unfortunately the universe has a way of slowing us down regardless of our plans. Remember, slow and steady. Healing takes time.
So sorry to hear your elbow is progressing so slowly😢
Hang in there! I think it’s wonderful that you are learning to slow down.
I think you, like me, can be too hard on yourself! Lists are a double edged sword. I make lots of lists too but try to focus on what I did get done rather than what’s still left. Writing something down just helps me acknowledge that it needs to get done ( or keeps me from forgetting about it) When that happens?….well whatever has priority at the moment…for you there has been added physical therapy. Sometimes I write a list of what I did do in a day for awhile. Helps me feel like there is progress. I embrace the saying “progress over perfection” as much as I can these days, and I’m a lot happier for it😊
Really, you amaze me with what you do! You are a very productive person. Give yourself grace!
Please keep up your therapy and do exactly what they tell you to do. I believe in therapy because it got me back to walking after 2 knee replacements. Of course, having David (hubby) around helped a lot! You WILL recover everything; maybe you will not be able to do all the things in a day but one day at a time gets it done. Prayers for you and Cowboy.
I hope your elbow continues to heal, preferably more quickly. Do take care of yourself. I had lists of quilts to finish too, but now I think of them all in standing in line. Sometimes a UFO jostles itself to the front of the line, others languish in the back while the pushy ones move forward. Progress on the quilt at the front of the line helps move the whole line forward, so even when I am not working on one on the back of the line, it is moving forward.
I find the Challenge doesn’t make me “perfect;” but, it does help me turn the tops into quilts!
I love your lists — they are quite ambitious but something to work toward. I like that you are taking time off with a more regular schedule and filling that with things for you. I only worked on my own projects over the last two weeks, and it was nice to see my personal pile shrink. Sorry your elbow isn’t healing as quickly as you’d like. My hip is taking longer after my surgery in gaining strength and flexibility (walking and standing is fine), but I am seeing some progress, even if slower than I’d like. I am learning to practice patience more than I have before.
I wish your elbow was doing better but hang in there with the PT. So glad you are cutting back and doing more things for yourself.
Your post inspired me to make my own list. Wow, there is a lot of stuff on mine. I have way too many projects in my queue.
Wait! Wait! Wait! I froze at “I was working 10-14 hours a day, plus weekends.” Are you kidding me???? That alone is an amazing feat, and then you get down on yourself for not getting as much done as you want??? Girl, you need a reality check with the rest of the world! Plus, at least when I was working, I could come home to my “hand work” as my therapy – nothing better than sitting in front of the tv with a glass of wine and some knitting. I cant imagine how it works when your fun/therapy is your profession. Really, my mind is reeling! Furthermore, I learned after shattering my wrist that an elbow fracture is the worst kind of fracture in terms of healing and regaining function. I pray that you can find the ability to let go of ALL expectations and just follow the processes of healing and creating. FROM WHERE I’M SITTING, It seems to me your life is so FULL of blessings I hope you see and enjoy them all.