Friday, June 15, 2012

overwhelming

yes, that dreaded overwhelming feeling. i hate it. it is one of the most annoying feelings, for me at least. right now i feel like i have so much on my plate. and now that summer is here all i want to do is just have fun. and i do, don't get me wrong but balancing everything and wanting to get all the things i want to get down is just too much sometimes. i know i am not the only person who feels this way. writing this out has helped but i am still at a loss at how to balance everything, make money but also make my dreams come true. here is a little of what i am dealing with...

1. tattoo designs, (i have a cue of ladies lined up to do designs for, YAY, this is a good thing!)
2. wedding invitations and an assortment of other designs
3. updating and making new artwork for my shop (i do have the work i had in my show and a poppy piece that i have already taken pictures of just need to upload!)
4.  making work for a show
5. business cards (i have NONE and people always ask for them)
6. wanted to re-design my blog again, to match my business cards
7. i have not gotten around to filling out the application to help at the bird sanctuary and honestly don't think i have the time to help! this makes me really sad because i really want too.
8.i have a great idea that i have already designed that is about sharing the road with bikers and i really really want to actually make it and distribute locally and on bart (the train i use to get to the city)
9. a calendar of my floral illustrations (i was working on this but have had to put it on the back burner)
10. updating my flickr portfolio with more work

i like being in control and that has been a problem for me for sometime.  i get sooo caught up with getting everything done as soon as possible, like i have this invisible deadline and if things don't get done before it then everything will just go to shit. i really really need to work on letting things go and just doing one thing at a time. i have to keep telling myself that it is okay if some of these things never get done and be okay if none of them do. i think it is natural to feel this way but it is a different story to try and break that way of thinking. i know i can do it and i love being able to share it here, it does put everything in perspective and makes me look at my list and really narrow down what is more important.
a very smart co-worker of mine told me once, "work smarter not harder". keeping that motto in mind  and organizing my work more, i think i can narrow some things off my list to make my life happier, fuller and more productive without feeling so overwhelmed. with keeping that idea in mind, i can check off # 4,6, 7 & 9 until i have free time.  leaving a much more manageable list of things to do.

aaaaaaawwww,  i feel so much better right now! it is nice to "talk" things out.

xo,
cb

29 comments:

  1. Cristie, I understand all too well how you feel. I think recognizing that we can't control everything is one of the hardest things I have ever learned to accept. Your coworker is right, work smarter not harder. Now that you have everything in a list, you can prioritize according to what needs to get done right away, what can wait a bit, and what has to be put off for a while until you get a routine or in the swing of things that is productive for you. Not that you aren't productive, because I know you are, but try to find a balance between your work, art, and personal life. It takes time to find the time to restructure when you get things done. Don't get down on yourself, either... just take one step at a time.

    xoxoxoxoxoxo!!!

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    1. i know it is really hard to accept but at least i have gotten that far and knowing it have the battle, changing it is another but i am young and i know i can do it too. thank you so much for your support and friendship, it means soo much to me. i think also, i am really emotional so all these things to do is weighing on me. xoxoxoxoxo

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  2. I think we all feel like this! For me - trying to manage work (which can be hectic), my friends, my craft life, gym & everything else can be a bit of a nightmare. Sometimes I spend too much time on one part of my life and worry I'm not spending enough time in another area. It's so hard to reach a balance - but you can do it!

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    1. being a human is really hard sometimes. on top of all that i am feeling super emotionally and have other feelings mixed with this overwhelming feeling. it is really hard but i just gotta keep swimming! thank you so much for your friendship and your support!xoxoxo

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  3. Hang in there and make a list of everything that you need to do on good old fashioned paper. Cross off each time you get something done. This will help. I am certain.

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    1. i did that last night and i am slowly crossing things off. i love making a list on pen and paper, i do it so often, i just have to get things out of my brain in order to feel better!

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  4. work smarter not harder - somebody said this to me yesterday and i thought - wow, duh! andrea that makes a lot of sense.

    i do this too though, have these invisible and sometimes unrealistic deadlines that I can't make. then the cycle gets tough when you stress out about not getting things done "on time" or soon enough and blah blah blah... but lately i've found that writing down the the most important things i need to get done the next day before i go to bed really helps me stay on track and not get overwhelmed. i start my day with that list and it makes me feel motivated and inspired before i even eat lunch :)

    have a great weekend!

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    1. i know that motto is so great! i keep running it thru my head and really writing a list before bed is the best! i do it often and did it last and i am already feeling a bit better about the list of things to do. thanks andrea for your support! hope you are having a great weekend too!

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  5. I love the "work smart not harder" idea. I totally fell like I run around in circles most of the time. I'm at the point where it's either give up or get my act together. I'm going with get my act together and without even thinking about it its working somehow. The less pressure and stress I put on myself the more things just seem to be falling into place. I hope the same happens for you!!

    Take it easy and good luck with everything!

    <3kat

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    1. i am glad it is working for you. i get that way sometimes but i never want to give up unless it is my only choice. i hate defeat but sometimes you just have to throw your hands up and just let things go. sometimes the healthiest choice you can make for yourself! thank you so much for your support. i hope you are having a great weekend!xoxox

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  6. you have a lot to think about! But it's all good stuff! I started with the list thing recently as i felt like i wasnt gettting anything done..i write out a little list for the next day of things to achieve, it's just a small one though so i don't get too overwhelmed by it!!

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    1. yes the great thing about this overwhelming feeling is all the things are great and good for me! i wrote out my list and so far soo good! it helps me sleep better if i can put pen to paper and know what i have to do the next day and then slowly i can check things off my larger to do list!

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  7. Writing it out helps a lot! It puts all the ideas that you have and sorta organizes them. It also helps you see how much you've done so far. You'll do great just take a step back and remember its okay to have fun too!

    xo Amber P.

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  8. whenever i feel overwhelmed i start making lists, too. somehow clearing my mind in that way really seems to help :) oh, another thing i do is clean (especially the clutter) i truly can't think or get anything done if my work space (whether it be kitchen, office, dining area, etc) is cluttered.

    here's to all your dreams coming true! :)

    -erin

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  9. I think you're pretty much super woman. Do what you can without compromising yourself or your life. It'll all turn out okay in the end. xoxo

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    1. thanks jordan, that is such a good way to think. it will turn out great in the end so why stress! your one smart lady! xoxoxoxox

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  10. That's a really good motto: "work smarter, not harder!" Definitely going to try and keep that one in mind.

    This is the reason lists are so helpful. It's so much easier to see things in front of you in black and white. I really hope it has helpoed you feel less overwhelmed. I love your work and it deserves to shine!

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  11. This is exactly how I'm feeling right now! Reading your post made me feel a little better too...it's always nice to see that you're not alone. I have figured out that June is like this for me every year. I usually have multiple weddings to shoot/edit and everybody seems to want portraits done this month too. It's fine because I can make some money, but it also gets hard to stay caught up! AND this is when going to the lake and chillin' on the boat would be the best...but I can't. Boo! I hope you're feeling better and checking things off your list :)

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    1. your world sounds crazy too! i hope it can calm down for you but still keep that money coming in! i hope you can get to the lake soon!!! it will relax you!

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  12. I feel ya sister. I get that anxious feeling like my hearts gonna jump out of my chest because I am so stressed about all the things I need to do. Making a list always helps me too as well as a tall glass of wine. :)

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  13. I really love the saying "work smarter, not harder" and I always try to remember that! I totally feel you- I have a list of goals and things I want to learn and work on for my career path. But it's so hard in the summer to juggle all the fun times with friends, work, school, and hobbies! Making a list definitely helps, though. I know you will do it!

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  14. oh honey, I'm so sorry you're feeling this way, but can totally understand. Sending you lots of love, I've emailed you too xox

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  15. I feel ya hon. Sometimes I feel like I am not cut out for freelance work. It builds up so quickly and then I feel like just not doing it. I am a horrible procrastinator. It helps me to finish everything that needs to be done or that people paid for, put my Etsy on vacation and take a little breather. The creative brain doesn't work 24/7.

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    1. sometimes i feel that way but i am huge into not procrastinating. i don't like it and it adds to the stress. but sometimes i do because there is just no way around it. ahh life! so many difficult things to juggle! being a human is hard! haha

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  16. i've felt so overwhelmed since we got back from ontario that i can't even function. this is why i'm catching up on my comments from weeks ago! you always get so much more accomplished than i could ever imagine one person could do in a weekend! you can do it! <3

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  17. Totally agree, it's one of the worst feelings! Glad writing it out helped.. making lists always helps me!

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  18. do i EVER get this Cristie! well said and well vented. good for you on letting it out so candidly. we're all doing the best we can with the hours in each day we're given. supportive cyber hug it!! xo ♥

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thanks for commenting! it fills me with joy that you have taken the time to stop by!
xo,
cb