I started listening to audio books! I love them and have listened to several. It totally keeps me focused! I use my Iphone and have finished The girl with the Dragon Tatoo series!
I need to get to the library for something else!

Ditto Dotsie!

If you find out please let me know, i have the same problem, can't sit still for too long

Hi - just noticed you are from Evergreen, LA. I was born in Bunkie, lived in Bay Hills and went to school a few years in Evergreen. Was a snowflake in a Christmas pageant. My mom went to high school in Evergreen. Small world, eh? Don't know your age, but wondering if you knew any Hardy's or Cox's from many years ago?

My trick to staying on task is to set a timer.. No matter what I'm doing, I set the silly timer.. If I'm working, I know I'll only be working for 30 mintues, or 45, whatever YOU decide.. and then I can do something else.. I generally work as hard as I can go for those 30 mintues and then set the timer again for an hour and have fun.. When that hour is up, I'll do another 30 minutes of work.. I really try to focus on only the most important thing I have to do first.. and finish one thing at a time. It really works, give it a try! That way you don't spend your whole day working, and you don't find yourself at the end of the day with nothing accomplished.. You get both.. fun and work, in any combination you choose!

I had a talk with myself a few years ago. I had to decide what is important to me. So I ask myself frequently- is this the most important thing for me to be doing right now? If it is not, I don't do it, because I will never get it done if it is not important (to me).

I have a really good couple of paragraphs that I got from the Daily Word which comes in my email box every day. I will send it on to anyone who wants a copy- it is not overly religious, just has some affirmations in it.

I have had a terrible problem with procrastination in the past and still jump around a lot and tend to want to start new things all the time.

I also made a pact with myself to finish one WIP before I start a new one. This does not diminish the number of WIPS and UFOS, but it does kind of keep them from building up any further.

I hope this is helpful to someone! :P :D :lol: Another thing is don't be too hard on yourself and have fun!!!

Oh, and I usually have things that I want to do for others, i.e. afghans for my kids for christmas, baby quilt for neighbor BEFORE the baby gets here, wedding quilt for bff...sometimes those projects can be your metronome. At the moment, I'm only working on my 'me' project off and on, when I have time for it and in the evenings (and when I can buy quilting thread!)

Lived here for 32 years (all my married life). Hubby is original--50 years. Don't recognize the names but I'm sure I know someone who does. My first job was at Evergreen Elem. Great to meet you.

I realize that my mom's death will affect me, and it has, but I was kooky before and have always struggled with staying focused. I joke that I diagnosed myself with ADHD several years ago when I was at a workshop to (get ready) learn how to recognize students with ADHD. Had a huge awakening that day! Anyway, I am shocked that so many have responded to this thread. Thank you. I had a few tricks, now I have lots more.

Oh, and while you all were posting, I was sewing! :-) Got that disappearing 4 patch center done. Now to the applique.

I think there has to be incentive or a way to see your accomplishments.
1. Show N Tell at my guild. They give achievement awards. And just showing a finished quilt which they will all admire is great incentive.
2. I keep a journal with pictures of all the quilts and other projects I've done. After a few years, it really starts to look nice and gives a great feeling of accomplishment.
Things like this help me stay focused on the tedious work.

I focus on the quilt I'm working on by turning on my computer. I have music downloaded on it, and I didn't put a tv in my quilt room cause I knew I could be distracted. I just listen to listen to music and quilt away. I couldn't stay focused otherwise.

just call it multi-tasking...i think we quilters are very talented.. :mrgreen:

I have the attention span of a gnat. I guess that is why I have so many UFOs.

Lol in general, my attention span would insult a gnat.

I have the problem also -- big time! One thing I do to help keep me focused is make a list. But unlike Jill, I list the things I want done in the quilting dept. And I check it off as I accomplish it. On that day, everything is left to the wayside. (Sorry, but that's how it is.) Another thing I do is, instead of sewing assembly line style. I do one block at a time. I find more satisfaction in doing it this way. All of those unfinished blocks drive me batty.

Sorry, I don't have an answer for you. I like to wander and take frequent breaks, but I usually stick to the same project until fininshed. There's no such thing as a time frame at my house.

I call this multi tasking.

Some days I can't focus, other times I can't fall asleep as I'm restless over projects. I've been known to go to bed, get up after an hour of tossing and turning, and work through the night finishing a project. And not because I have a deadline - I do this for fun. That project might be something I didn't touch at all the day before.

I just go with it, an hour of a project, an hour doing something else - they say moving around every hour is good to do. But if I'm on a roll, I can sit at my machine forever!

There are a bazillion websites with advice on how to stay focused on tasks. Just Google how to stay focused and start reading. I treat quilting like any other job, establish a regular schedule, set priorities, take breaks every hour, all that kind of stuff. Good luck to you.

Boy, am I not alone! My sis told me this summer that when I was young, and to this day, I was a classic ADD. Mom didn't know what to do with me. Maybe there is something about us creative folks that is accompanied by attention problems. No problems at work, deadlines, structure, etc. Another thing, when something is not "just right" I can't continue, must walk away till the solution presents it'self.
My younger son was diagnosed with ADD, by a neurologist, and with medication and ld support, outgrew it. I haven't. When someone starts in on not giving meds to "real" ADD/ADHD, you know that they have not been down that road. Ignoring a problem like that in a child can lead to a child not finishing high school.
I feel much better now, thanks for listening to my rant.

Judi, I'm a teacher/librarian. I know the kids (without being told) who are on meds and when they haven't taken the meds. I sometimes wonder how I managed school, but I know the answer is that I was terrified of spankings. Not that they were so bad, I just happen to be one of those people who want to please others. A spanking didn't hurt as much as knowing that my parents were upset with me. (Really, they could have just told me and saved the rest--it wasn't necessary :-) Anyway, I drove everyone around me nuts and still do--wiggling, moving, doing several things at once, talking like I'm insane, just all sorts of things all at once all the time all me.

When others complain, I say, "Oh well, God doesn't make mistakes, so this is what he must have intended." My husband says we'll know for sure when we get there, and HE won't be surprised if there is a glitch in the wiring! I answer, I can NOT change (and I ain't tryin).

I've said the last part so many times it's become my 7 yr olds gd's mantra: I ain't tryin', so there! She's my mini-me! Today she's wearing cut-off jean shorts, long-sleeve hoodie, and cowboy boots (no socks) and riding her little dirt bike. This after changing three outfits because they weren't pretty. When she walks into any room, everything changes to chaos and commotion.

I, too, flit from thing to thing. When I am trying to knit or quilt , I have found the use of my Ipod or radio can keep my mind just busy enough to allow hours to go by while being productive. I am not sure why this works. I grew up as an only child and am easily distracted when reading or doing many other things. Maybe I need just a little more going on when stitching, since it often is more mindless. Hmmmm! I had never thought through this. Thanks for the question. :-)

Thank you, glad to hear that I'm not alone.