I’m the queen of distraction some most days. Things that involve my blog writing are wonderful distractions. I enjoy them. I’m truly smitten with all that goes with blogging. And photography. I can lose time at a rapid pace.
But…my unfinished projects won’t get done if I don’t focus effort on completing them. There are so many stages, it’s easy to find a place to stop and pause. And make subtle progress.
I can’t get all bent outta shape, I just need to do the work.
Perfection isn’t my goal, even though, that would be nice.
So I made a rule. Just for today.
“Complete 5 steps in my book-keeping project before I get to write a blog post.”
Well…I did just that, and even more. I kept going, and I ended up climbing a small mountain.
I felt like I had superpowers.
Great thoughts speak only to the thoughtful mind, but great actions speak to all mankind. – Theodore Roosevelt
Yay me…I climbed through my unattended-for-way-too-long pile of papers. Just like the tiny bug at the top of the petal above & at the top of the stigma below? I conquered a small space of unfinished business in my world.
Then I realized, I ran out of time for writing a stellar blog post. It’s all in the eye of the beholder, right?
The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. – Vince Lombardi
Don’t compromise yourself. You are all you’ve got. There is no yesterday, no tomorrow, it’s all the same day. – Janis Joplin
Post Inspiration – Unfinished Projects #IFUP; #1LinerWednesday (Check it out on Linda’s Blog here) and Becky B’s #JulySquares and #Blue.
PS – Happy Wednesday – hope you’re feeling productive too! Do you see the tiny ray of ‘blue’ off of the driveway that I claimed for the challenge? Did you see the tiny bug?
It’s good to know that I am not the only one struggling with “too many projects too little time” . Congratulations for your success. Keep rolling lady 😚🙋♀️🐝
Thank you, I’m in good company with you!! 🙂
My sense of productivity waxes and wanes. I used to be always on, doing the things, feeling accomplished. But now, I do less, enjoy more. I don’t know when I shifted to this mindset, but I like it.
You’ve inspired me to do the same thing. Each delay provides me with the opportunity to say, “Well it hasn’t mattered so far…maybe it really doesn’t?”
PS – doing things you enjoy more…picking a topic on your blog post that generates a lot of conversation, now that takes a time commitment ;-)!
I like the water drops 🙂
Beautiful flowers. Spider webs do make excellent photographs but a lot of factors have to line up to get the shot. Great shot. Thanks for sharing! g
Thank you, G! I didn’t even see the spider web when I was taking the photo…it was a surprise, so I’m happy it sort of turned out!
I dis see the tiny bug! It’s really tiny too. 😎
Yes it is! Glad you saw it!
Yes, blogging can become obsessive if I’m not careful. Stacks of paper seem to appear out of nowhere. Whoops! Better go through them.
I like your plan to reward yourself with doing a blog post.
I so admire your close-ups of the flowers. Did a white balance setting factor in to those? (I am trying stealthily to find out your secrets!!) 🙂
You’ve been watching me ignore and grow my piles, haven’t you? :-)! I’d say let’s race to see who can finish first, but there are pictures to take!!
Oh, dang, I knew I forgot to reply to your question re: the white balance. Here’s my ultimate secret. When I wanted to figure it out so I could shoot in manual mode (which is where you’ll get the bokeh effect), I would take a picture in Auto mode, look at what the camera set it at, then I switched to manual mode and reset ISO and Fstops to as close as possible to that auto setting. Then I just played and adjusted how much light was coming in or not. I never read the book, so I’m horrible at explaining. I’ve taken tons of really horrible shots! And much of it blind, I don’t have a nice screen to rotate to see what I’m taking shots of like you do. Some of my best shots I find later during review. 😉 Hope that helps!?
Thank you so much for your help! I will try this out. Your ideas (which I will refer to as the Shelley Method) make perfect sense. Logical sense!! I appreciate it 🙂
You’re welcome – I’m positive you’ll ace the technique! 🙂
I hope so!
Same here with me but you are far more consistent than me, Shelley! Lovely photos!
Aw, thanks, Winnie! You’re enjoying time with your family and your other writing – both with rewards that are the results of extra special efforts! 🙂
You’re welcome, Shelley! Yes! Their classes were suspended for two days and we have much time to be together but the youngest has the flu so I had to prepare nourishing food for him. The rewards from both are truly rewarding. 😉
Oh, no, I hope the youngest gets better fast and that the rest of the family doesn’t get the flu! Take care!!!
He’s a little better now but I got the flu! Thank you, Shelley! It’s the changing weather that’s making us sick.
The internet in general can become a black hole to me very quickly. I applaud your technique in completing projects before diving in. Today I’m determined to knock off a list of things and am about halfway through. Reading a few blogs was my break and now I’m back at it. (All indoors, I think, as the 90+ weather isn’t appealing to me AT ALL.)
Yes, the internet, reading blogs, etc. is way more fun than filing, entering receipts, filing, entering receipts, balancing books, ugh… I hope you found some fun projects to complete. Yeah, I hear ya, the hot weather has not been fun to be out in. Even my dog doesn’t want to go outside! PS – it’s great to hear from you! 🙂
Beautiful flowers and it’s amazing how they look really close up! Yay for getting some of your goals accomplished, too. 🙂
Thank you! 🙂 It was a good start to the day.
A beautiful way to express it. Love these flower photos. 🙂
Thank you, Amy! Glad you enjoyed the post. 🙂
Oh this is so me. I have written a few blogs over the years and one thing I have found is that writing a post can be the carrot for getting things done that I really do not have the motivation to do. Also documenting what I am up to keeps me focussed.Great post !
I wonder if it is creative folks that end up with so many piles!? Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Oh, those gorgeous flowers. And you did end up with a lovely post. On my to-do list that I keep putting off: clean my office and finish my boys’ baby book. OK, I have albums for age 2-current, but the baby book is a scrapbook–and it’s so time-consuming!
Thank you, Rebecca! LOL – 2-current, you’ve got me beat, my second daughter is 24 and I never got past baby stage of her book… ;-)! She says she’s fine with that, though, so, I might take it off my to-do list. If you find a short-cut to making the book, let me know! 😉
Well, that’s good. Baby stage is the only one they definitely can’t remember! Not being very tech savvy, I haven’t tried it, but I know there are companies, like Shutterfly but not, that make a little photo album for you just by pulling pics you post on a social media site–sounds like a quick and easy way to document a little vacation, maybe, or a season. Hope you’re enjoying your summer and beautiful flowers. It was 96 here yesterday–ugh!
I like that idea. I’d have to scan in pictures, my two were born before the easy digital photo uploading happened. They may need to just be content with the printed photos – vintage beginnings ;-)! Hope you’re enjoying your summer too – stay cool by the pool and have fun with those kiddos! xx
I am with you, Shelley, on the projects I should be doing and completing. Writing and photography is the fun part. I try to put myself on a reward system (sometimes.). I like your quote on the thoughts versus actions. Stunning photos!
Thank you, Erica. We both know what are the best parts of our creative endeavors – in the end, isn’t that what matters most? ;-)!
It was still a stellar post as you had all the beautiful glimpses of flowers and I saw that faint spider’s web before you pointed it out. I have an idea in my mind which is going to be more pictures than narrative – I’ve been trying to get it done and keep collecting more and more pics – this weekend, when it is 105 real feel, I may just finally get it done … I got sidetracked with the garage, finger and other things and yesterday a Windows critical update messed up my computer – life is just a PI* sometimes! It interferes by stemming out creative flow. 🙂
Aw, thanks, Linda. I agree, sometimes life just gets in the way of creativity! I hope you’re able to get the post done that you’re wanting to create.
I hope so too Shelley – it will be done around the storms they are predicting I think and I have a moon post I’ll try to do for tomorrow as well. I have things to do in the house and outside but am going to be defiant and just have myself a “me” weekend – it’s too hot to trek in a big park, the flooding is still in most of the bigger parks and the weather is better and more seasonal on Monday and Tuesday, but we don’t have the ease of going out and staying out on our own schedule as it is a workday. I want to whine, but right now, I just hope we don’t have severe weather, storm damage or lose our power and I will be happy for those items.
I agree – and I think that is a wonderful idea to have “ME” time for yourself. Take care, dear, I’m thinking of you and hoping your wishes come true.
Thanks – I feel like all I do is whine anymore, but even this week has been rough. My boss got bad news re: his health and is taking the attitude that “I want my Summer, then I’ll sorry”, the computer issue the same day, and this morning I went outside to the garage and the door got stuck halfway down – don’t know what happened there and then when it was closed I saw a gap (after telling you it was seamless) so that is new and I’ll need to call but need to calm down about it all first. I’m still aiming to collect my pics for that one post – hopefully, working around the storms and an afternoon walk.