Being creative can be a blessing and a curse. It can help you in times of need or times where you don’t want to need it.You can sit around all day and think you’re being productive. At the same time, you’re a master procrastinator.
Creative Pros
First, I love being creative. Usually it’s an introverted thing. I like to spend my days inside crafting, creating, making things.I think we are the mysterious ones. the ones who can make things out of nothing and everything, all at the same time. Need a hat? We can make you one. Have a cat? We can make one for them too.
Since I’m chronically ill, it’s an everyday task to be creative. I make lists on lists, and have been looking for the perfect app for all of these lists. You won’t catch me without my favorite fountain pen and some sort of paper in front of me.
Creative Cons
Second, it’s just as much of a curse to create. My apartment is one big craft tornado chaos. If you walk in, you’ll know exactly where I work. My kitchen table has my laptop on it with all of my stationary and planners. The con about this, is that my memory doesn’t allow me to stop this chaos of planning.
Another one is the hallway leading to the bathroom and bedrooms. It’s a very small hallway. Georgie likes to hang out in the bathroom the most. She likes to chew on plastic buckets and baskets in the sink, and don’t remember the last time I used that sink.
So, I do my crafts in the middle of the shallow hallway so I can be bird sat. This is when she needs to keep an eye on me at all times and I’m not allowed to leave that spot. Evidently, my roommate hates that spot, because he has to step over not only me, but the creative chaos all around me.I think every crafter has a problem with putting things away. I’m always working on something and never want to put anything away. I know I’m coming back to it, and my brain agrees, but it’s not always a good idea to have sewing needles on the floor with a sewing project.
Another one is the hallway leading to the bathroom and bedrooms. It’s a very small hallway. Georgie likes to hang out in the bathroom the most. She likes to chew on plastic buckets and baskets in the sink, and don’t remember the last time I used that sink.
So, I do my crafts in the middle of the shallow hallway so I can be bird sat. This is when she needs to keep an eye on me at all times and I’m not allowed to leave that spot. Evidently, my roommate hates that spot, because he has to step over not only me, but the creative chaos all around me.
I think every crafter has a problem with putting things away. I’m always working on something and never want to put anything away. I know I’m coming back to it, and my brain agrees, but it’s not always a good idea to have sewing needles on the floor with a sewing project.
What I do about this…
All things have to end eventually. Unfortunately, this includes my creative chaos. At the same time, this is where the creative chaos comes in. I use my crafts to create solutions.
A knitted loom hat upside down can be a basket pouch. Just putting my earbuds and something cute makes me want to put it away.
Another,cinch bags are some of my favorites to use for small things. Markers and colored pencils are neatly placed away with tall cinch bags. I loom knitted a pencil case and sewed a zipper on top. Thesecinch bags order my pens from my highlighters so nothing drowns in everything else.
Have you ever gone into a Dollar Tree? This is the only place I get organization from. Things like buckets and baskets that are also chewed up from my bird, are great to utilize in your work areas. I just put my sewing essentials in a shallow basket, since those are the things I carry around the most. During the Valentine’s Day holiday, I grabbed a few of these tiny buckets with a sealed lid for garbage I might have on the floor from the chaos. They’re perfect for tiny threads that can stick to your socks, or sticky notes you don’t want to get up to put in the garbage just yet. I got one last year to put laundry quarters in, but had to wait another year to get a few more.
Have you ever gone into a Dollar Tree? This is the only place I get organization from. Things like buckets and baskets that are also chewed up from my bird, are great to utilize in your work areas. I just put my sewing essentials in a shallow basket, since those are the things I carry around the most.
During the Valentine’s Day holiday, I grabbed a few of these tiny buckets with a sealed lid for garbage I might have on the floor from the chaos. They’re perfect for tiny threads that can stick to your socks, or sticky notes you don’t want to get up to put in the garbage just yet. I got one last year to put laundry quarters in, but had to wait another year to get a few more.
I hope this helps a little bit with your own creative chaos.
Are you a morning person or a burning midnight oil owl?I’m known to be a night oil and ask for everything to comprise in the afternoon. Evidently, waking up at 10:30 every day this week was brutal for me. This postis forones who are curiousabout what Ido with mytime, as Iburn the midnight oil.
By the way, I can be up till seven in the morning before the thought is goingto crossmymind.Myenergycomes at the end of the afternoon, into the evening. Also, mybirdwants to be tucked in from 9:30 to midnight. That’s when I greet the quiet and start working.
Over here obtain a list of what I do during my burning midnight oil time:
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Midnight Empire-ing:
First, I work at night when it comes to Creating Jenni.Georgie Birddemandsmyhands propping her, not typing on a laptop. She gets extremely annoyed when the screen is on, and not dedicating her to my extensive attention.
Some common things aremysocials, myemails, my start-up business, and other thingsI’ll be sharing on the list.
Midnight
Midnight Planning:
I love this weekly planner from Amber Housley. It makes me remember the good, not just the extreme in a business.
Undeniably, there is a special place in my heart for planning. Even using different colors for different things and multiple at the same time.
Midnight Subscribing:
Ever since Istarted my blog about 4 months ago, I‘ve been subscribing to other bloggers. At first, it was about how to be successful with a blog. Now that Ihave other needs to look into, I have been gettingsuggestions from Instagram and Pinterest.Adsknow you have been looking at something earlier and make sure you know.Taking advantage of these sometimes and watch for the ads only. I’m goingto try really hard not to fangirl, but show their amazing content.
Hereis a sub-list of my email subscriptions:
Alison Reeves at alisonreeves.com: A kind spirit, who represents a business and marketing coach.
Ruth at ruthsoukup.com: The lady who does it all, advises on how to live a freeing lifestyle.
Stephanie at handmadebosses.com: The knowledgeable lady, who is all things Etsy on YouTube.
Also, I’ve learned not to takesubscriptions for granted. I withhold them in their specific folders to look back on for later. You may not need anything at the moment but need it later.
Midnight Printing:
I have been printing out lists from my email on planner paper. I love this spring cleaning list from Abby Lawson.
At length, I take the subscribers’ emails to quite a level;Iprint everything out they have to offer.Ithink of blogging as going to college; cramming information down my throat, highlighting key points, and making a bookout of them with 3 book rings.Some of them, Iprintout as books themselves, and someIprintout to constantly utilize with me for ordinary reference.
In addition, every email has helpedin some way to achieve my goals. Whether it’s from a printout of what they are going through at the moment. It means a lot.
Midnight Streaming:
Particularly, YouTube, Netflix, Hulu…Anything to listen and or watch in peace, without a bird screaming to tell me the video stopped.
Midnight Sewing:
My amateur sewing on my leather wallet. I forgot there are tools for leather sewing…
Generally, I’m always sewing something with floss, especially love to embroider and customize.I don’t know how to use my sewing machine, but I can work a needle with chunky floss.
Midnight Shopping Online:
Honestly, does anyone else love shopping online? But it isn’t what you might think, though. It’s usually office supplies, planning supplies…Anything productive.Ilove supporting small businesses and have realizedIneed to do it more often. It just makes more sense as a newsmall business myself.
Midnight Self-Care:
Done shaving my face. Maybe I was born with it?
On the whole, his one is a little different than what other ladies might do. I likeshavingmyhead at night.Ever since Ihave, due to Fibromyalgia and having hair hurt, shaving at nightis like taking off the stress of the past few days.Myhead is starting over and soismystress.I‘ve noticed lately if Ishavemyface, myacne goes away too.Ihave notoriously prone skin and am surprised something worked.
Midnight Snacking:
Noteworthy, snacking is important. Even though doctors say not to. Who is not eating 12 hours after dinner till breakfast? That never made sense to me as a child. If you’re starved, eat. By the way, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches remain my favorite personally.
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Hopefully, you had fun reading this post, as I did make it.Farewell for now.
I have been away for almost two weeks now. Turns out, it isn’t hard to burn out with a blog. I have been watching webinars, studying the art of blogging for profit, writing notes, and making sure I have what I need to be successful.
The problem, I haven’t been taking the time for myself. I love creating. It’s the one thing that truly makes me happy, but wasn’t doing it. I had to stop everything, and do nothing, just to reflect.
I had bought a ton of stuff to create with at the beginning of the month, and haven’t really touched any of it. So, I started an embroidery project on a pillow. It says, Happy Forever. I’ll have to show you the finished project later. I have happy done, of course, like the armature I am, with ties everywhere.
I had to stop and think about all the wisdom I have received from professional bloggers in my email. I look for bloggers on Pinterest and Instagram, and search for them in the ads. I don’t tend to look at the pictures, if I’m looking for webinars and newsletters.
So, I sat down on my living room floor, scattered the printed pages, and began to read. I took in that wisdom, and wrote in the handouts what I needed to not burnout.
I love my blog, but I need to structure out my days to let myself breathe. A creative lifestyle blog is something I need to advise from.
At that moment, I decided to tell you about what I’m doing to make time for creation:
Embroidery: Sewing takes a lot of time, and that’s what I need. I need time to think about how to get in a healthy routine. My pillow was calling my name for a pretty project, and started covering happy. Watching videos on Pinterest for flower designs was probably my favorite part.
Making lists: Being burnt out, I do what I do best; I make lists. Lists of routines I need to be doing for myself. I found a bullet journal I had gotten from Walmart a few years ago. It was in a book, so I took out the stitches, and put a couple in my Happy Planner.
The journal has days of the week to tick off for tasks, and under them is where I put your tasks for the week. I loved this format so much, I made a variation for you. I put in more rows, since I ran out of space pretty quickly on the other one. I also have different sections of tasks, and thought many rows were a good idea anyway. I hope you like it.
Bing watching: Not touching the website is really hard. I love changing things up, and seeing what kinds of technology is out there for blogs. I usually watch YouTube all day, but I decided to switch it up to Netflix. It takes a lot for me to get into something time consuming, and YouTube is pretty good for the shorter content. This time, Netflix is calling my name, to really take the time to focus on something out of my norm.
I have finished a series called Legacies, am about to finish The Haunting of Bly Manor, and have a secret love affair with all things supernatural.
YouTube has been a picky one lately. Podcasts are getting to me, as I listen to them with my bird. This is when I create my projects, and just hang out. Come Sit With Us is a great one from The Try Wives. If you love to dig in deep about mental flaws, Good For You with Whitney Cummings is another favorite.
Spending time with my bird: I love my bird. She is so sweet. She is also like a child, who needs your attention at every second of the day. So, I have spent many days serenading her with YouTube Music. Singing and switching up the words, makes her melt every time. Any song with the word love in it, is a great song. I tend to listen to a lot of 90s music for this reason. I wonder if she was a Backstreet Boy fan in another life.
Animals are a great way to settle down with, when things are a bit hectic. She has her little personality quirks that just make me laugh. Hanging out in the bathroom, her favorite room, made things extra special.
The daytime is for Georgie. Being a night owl myself, I do better burning the midnight oil. She went to bed early, and I got so much done! It’s the time I am most creative, and productive. It’s my favorite time of the day. A cup of tea, something to listen to, and anything to keep my hands busy.
Create yourself: Have you ever just sat down, and played with makeup? Maybe it’s been a while, and I need to take the time to do it again. For me, it was this, and shaving my head bald. Hair hurts with fibromyalgia, and has been gradually getting shorter for about 10 years. I shaved it 2 years ago, because it hurt too much to have it. This time, I don’t want the maintenance of my hair. I love my curly hair, but it was annoying to have. I like rubbing my bald head, and knowing there isn’t hair to get in the way of massaging it.
I have been taking the time to go on Amazon to look at plastic earrings to compliment my new hairdo. I’m allergic to metal, and thought it was a great idea to look up plastic instead. My skin doesn’t like to have metal on it, and the idea of alternatives is a nice thought.
Without hair, I don’t need to maintain products, and can focus on other confident boosting avenues. Like the earrings, I love scarves. Scarves and mascara are the perfect accessories to a bald head.
What is a good way for you to not cause burnout? How do you make time to create?
My roommate has had these food serving slates, and haven’t used them in a couple years. So, I asked for them as chalkboard reminders. I ended up getting some chalk, and started on my journey of things to pick up around the house, with the reminders in a couple places.
I looked for different kind of slates this week online, and found some fun coasters. I was at Walmart for chalk, when I found a two pack of coasters. I was super excited. Regular chalk doesn’t work on slates, but the liquid pens look so good on them.
Going to Hobby Lobby is one of my favorite pleasures in life. I found some blackboard clothes pins on clearance for .49, and picked out 2 packs of 4. Along the way of finding my roommate, I found some really pretty pastel liquid chalk pens. They stand out in the room, so it really helps to see something with a bright color contrast.
The flower vase is placed on my living room coffee table, so it is always starring me down, when I look at the time, or admire the bouquet.
A bouquet of fake flowers and pompoms, with a coaster slate reminder in it.
A clothes pin blackboard on a laundry hamper, telling me to wash clothes and bed stuff.
I tend to forget to pick up my mess, since I eat, when I’m doing something important most of the time. So, I made sure there was a clear message behind the spices on a coaster.
I hope this was a good post, leave a comment what you think of it.
I realized, I should just think about what topic I want to write about on the weekend, instead of worrying it throughout a 5 day period. I like to post things that are relevant to my life at the moment. Creativity is always relevant, so it isn’t too hard for me to come up with something different. It was fun to think about, and show the ways I’ve been using my slate reminders around the house.
I love a good list: Grocery lists, daily lists, appointments, needs, wants…Anything that gets me through the day. I use various types of sticky notes, stationary, utensils, textures, colors. I like when things stand out, and make sure I am able to the task at hand.
I love my planner!My mom gave me one for Christmas last year, and I loved it too much. It has pretty homemade folders, tons of sticky notes in the business card section, stationary, and inspiration before the weekly pages.
I like to change how I use my memos all the time: I need something different in moments that might not have made sense from yesterday. This image is my recent change. I liked that I highlighted my usual things in pink, and added sticky flags to remove when done with them. I also love that I have a list of different departments. I made it out to be the layout of Walmart. I start on the left, then make my way around to the food. Frozen and fridge stuff would be dethawed, if I did it the other way. Craft section and clearance isles get the best of me. I might not get anything, but it sure is fun to look.
I like to use things that appeal to me: A teacup with my things to sew, just make sense. I taped the cup to the saucer with heavy duty double stick tape, and wrapped it with some mesh. These are the things that make me happy. I don’t need to go out and buy containers all the time. Organizing on a budget, usually means I continuously recycle what I have around the apartment.
Don’t be afraid to use kids’ toys: I love my Dollar Tree broom. It gets behind the toilet, under the table better, and that space between the oven and refrigerator. You might be surprised by what you might need, but in a smaller version. I didn’t realize it was a toy, until I took it to the register…
Book rings might surprise you: They sure did sneak up on me. Another Dollar Tree find, since I didn’t want things to always be in a container of some sort. So, I put my rubber bands on them, my rainbow loom bands (sometimes you just need a tiny rubber band), safety pins, and even as a keychain. I bought a pack at one place, and didn’t realize I had another size at another. I loved it though. Rainbow looms take up a lot more room than one might think.
Bulldog clips are one of my favorites: They can be used for anything you decide they need to be on. Cereal bag? Do it. Keeping a book open? Put it on. Need to hang something? Use the hole to hang, and the clip to hold what you want it to be. They really are that fun.
I’m pretty sure this is going to have a more than just one page. I love giving the advice I have to others, just to make their life a little easier as well.
In the process of rebranding. Things look pretty silly right now, but if you have any questions, my email is jennikaeder@creatingjenni.com
-Jenni Dismiss
