Self Discipline...

Something we usually need to accomplish goals we set for ourselves.  Something I am sorely lacking in.

I live with two very self-disciplined people.  My hubby and our youngest son (who should be moving out soon!).  Both were serious and accomplished athletes and students.  Both work out on a regular basis, whether they feel like it or not.  Both are very focused individuals.  And then there's me.

Without a structured schedule, I tend to meander through the day, moving from one unfinished task to another.  I still manage to keep my house under control somewhat.  But my studio!!  That's another story all together.

Right now on my desk, crowding me, is a stack of small pieces of fabric, next to two crochet books.  Sitting on top of the crochet books is a stack of felt I fully intend to use to make some hand embroidered cuffs.  On top of the felt is a salad bowl, with delica beads, a crocheted rag cuff and all the embellishments I plan to sew onto the cuff.  And my camera is sitting precariously on top of the felt next to the bowl.  Along with some instructional DVDs I do plan to watch sometime and the TV remote and a book on bead sizes etc, that I KNOW I need to have at hand for quick reference.  I think it has been 6 months since I looked at it.  That's just on my left.

To the right, is a small finger bowl with an assortment of beads, next to that a spool of thread and a stack of papers with the descriptions of the handmade bags from the Ubushobozi Cooperative in Rwanda that I plan to list when I set up their Etsy shop.  Next to that is a little stack of catalogs I keep to go through to keep up with trends and color inspirations.  Somewhere in there are my embroidery scissors, more beads scattered around, some invoices...I could go on, but I think you get the picture.

So this huge 80 inch wide desktop (really a door sitting on top of sawhorse trestle legs) is now narrowed down to 24 usable inches, just enough for my huge monitor and my keyboard. 

I am now at the point where I need to clear off and organize my things.  And the whole process of clutter will start all over again.

Clutter paralyzes me when it comes to work.  So why do I allow it to creep in?  I have no idea.  It's just how I operate.  But if I want to make this little business of mine work, I think I need to work on being more disciplined.  Under pressure or with a deadline, it's easy for me to get things done.  Like cleaning house when company is coming.  I hate housework.  With a passion.  So I do as little as I can to get by.  Then when we're going to have houseguests, I pull out all the stops and get the job done.   But it's a HUGE job at that point.

Same with my business.  No problem getting custom orders out or bulk orders that have a deadline.  But to just get something done to list in my shop...I have so many little unfinished items scattered through my studio, it's ridiculous.

Today, I'm going to do something about that.  Well, maybe tomorrow.  Because right now I have to go vaccuum, dust and mop.  That's right!!!  Company coming tonight...  :)