Another day, another project in the Use Your Stash Challenge 2017! This one I have been putting off for at least two years–maybe more, considering the baby I made the first one for is now four-years-old. This is such a beautiful baby blanket, I couldn’t resist starting another one–but that was years ago. If you’re like me and find that staying on track isn’t always easy, this post will be an encouragement to you.
The Baby Blanket That Got the Best of Me
Look at all the beautiful colors in this blanket! I love the little granny circles that “get squared.” The bright, clear colors remind me of baby blocks and little toys.
I have so many ends to weave in at this point. As a result, it looks like a hairy mess, doesn’t it? If you look closely where the yellow and pink connect, you’ll see that I joined these squares with the join-as-you-go method.
Sometimes a blanket will get the best of me. As you can see from the photos, there are so many loose ends–so much to do–that I became a little overwhelmed. Did I mention that staying on track isn’t always easy for me?
Many people take on one job at a time and work to complete it. Some folks find it just as easy to keep several projects going at the same time. If you fall into the latter category, I have a few hints on keeping track of everything you have going on.
Staying on Track
1. Use a Bullet List Journal
Have you heard about this style of journaling? It’s all over the Internet right now. Whether you use a small journal or a spiral-bound notebook, lined paper or graph paper, the key is to use it. Simply write a to-do list and work your way through it. Unfinished items get moved to the next day; then you start over, working through your list.
2. Use a KanBanFlow.com Board
Project management tools are not just for the workforce any longer. Students, entrepreneurs, and stay-at-home parents are all using these tools. I like KanBanFlow because it allows you to have multiple lists: To-do, Doing, and Done. It allows you to set times for concentrated work and also tracks how much time you take on any one project. This is an excellent feature if you work on the computer. Staying on track has never been easier! There are even alarms you can set to tell you when to take a five-minute break and when to get back to work. If you can break your projects down into small, step-by-step increments which are quick to accomplish, this tool will work well for you.
3. Work on One Project Until it is Completed
This is a time-honored way of keeping your projects whittled down and under control. One drawback is when your project isn’t portable, and you find you must have a second (portable) project going at the same time. Or, if your project takes a lot of time and you just need a break from working on it.
4. The Traditional Planner
There are many planners out there to help you keep track of your life. Having a planner is the next big trend. One drawback is spending too much time decorating and managing the planner instead of actually getting your projects done.
5. The Legal Pad System
This is the system I am trying out right now. Each legal pad has one kind of job listed at the top, such as crochet projects, writing, and computer work. Then you list all of the projects in your queue that fit under that job heading. When you sit down to work on a project, simply pull out the legal pad to see what you need to do. I also have a one-page weekly calendar (link below) that allows me to schedule time in hourly increments for each project. By changing this schedule each week, all projects get the attention they need. I resisted the urge to “pretty up” these legal pads. I’m keeping it real and using what I already have.
What’s Your System?
Since I am trying to stay more organized this year, and I had legal pads on-hand, I’m up and running with the Legal Pad System. How about you? What do you use to stay organized? Leave a comment and let me know if you use a digital or paper product for tracking your projects. Is it working for you? Let me know!
Talk to you later,
Karen
P.S. The free printable weekly calendar is found here!