Right now I'm bouncing between chatting on this board, playing a computer game, watching TV, and adding to my blog.

When I go into the studio I rarely get more than 2-3 blocks sewn before I'm on to something else. I realize that I have a "touch of ADHD" but surely there must be a trick to sticking with something for a while. Any of you also deal with this problem? How do you keep yourself from wandering off?

I have several projects startd to keep me busy when the mood his me. That way I don't get bored easy. Try smaller projects that will give you the satisfaction of start to finsh quickly.

I have the opposite problem. I start sewing and can't quit. Hence the couple of all-nighters I did last week. I do periodically wander out of my sewing room & come check for new posts here. I guess that counts as taking a break?

I sew after I've sent my kid to bed.
Then I put on a pot of tea, turn on my classical music, and sew.
Before I know it, 3 hours have passed and I have to crash or I won't be up in the morning.
Perhaps, shutting the computer down, and setting aside a certain time to sew would work. When you know you have 2 uninterrupted hours, things can happen.
Perhaps if you need to get up often, use that as an excuse to iron, when you need a change - do some cutting, then when you need to change, sew again. :::>????

I'm interested in solutions for this too. I'll start something and then get distracted by another project or like today I cut out several wool sweater mittens while watching a movie, sewed one pair and discovered that the pattern needed an extra inch added to the bottom to fit correctly. Now I don't want to sew the other pairs because I've lost the momentum. I do this alot, get excited about something, cut out the fabric, then lose interest.

Is there something we can take to keep our focus?

I'd be interested in that! I have going-on-half-a-quilt (50 blocks out of 140) on my wall, and every time I walk into my sewing room to work on another block I walk out and head for the television, computer, or a nap before I've done anything.

Possibly it's because some insane impulse of mine said I could make it "scrappy" instead of buying large amounts of a number of fabrics as the pattern dictates. This means I have to make decisions about what fabrics to use in each block, and I don't do that well. I even tried to colour in EQ so I'd have a better idea, but have random amounts of each fabric so no idea if what I coloured was possible.

I have done a few small "craft" projects in between, mostly because they had deadlines, but would really like to get more of the quilt done!

I wish there was an answer because I am the same.

Seriously - have some caffeine! It is a self-medicating drug of choice for ADD/ADHD adults. We didn't have ritalin - just caffeine.

keep telling yourself OUTLOUD what you're supposed to be working on.

Only have 1 simple thing turned on to LISTEN to and if that's too distracting - shut it off and listen to the sounds of your house. :)

Well being a natural Type A personality, I am into several things at one time. When I did work outside the home, it came in very handy. It was called Multitasking!!! Which, by the way,I was very good at!!! I don't try to stop this part of me. it is who I am and meant to be. I have fused glass projects started, stained glass lamps started, crochet projects started and now I just starting getting into quilting. All my projects eventually get finished and I try to not put the pressure on for Christmas anymore. I do have coffee though to try and get focused. Right now, I am pinning together a rag quilt (3rd one in 3 weeks) and I am a little sleepy so, I plan on curling up with my pups for 1/2 an hour, then start sewing my blocks.

Go with the natural rythmn of your body. It will work out!!!

I think it is good for your muscles and mental state to get up periodically and do something else. I find I actually accomplish more when I "move around".

I say about myself that I have the attention span of an 8-year old, so I share your problem. One helpful thing (for me) is making a list and I try to make myself do those things before I start sewing, computer time, etc. Then sometimes I remember that I retired almost nine years ago, and everything gets done in time, so why should I try to be structured and that I should just go with the flow. I don't have the answer, but I surely have the problem!

So basically I'm just normal! Yeah!
I do have a few tricks that I use, so now I can add to my
répertoire. I'll definitely try them. Whatever works for you all, may work for me. Thanks!

I absolutely have no focus. Perhaps this should be my New Years resolution.

It' called being a quilter. We know how to multi task!!

I thought becoming a quilter would cure me!

Chocolate maybe...LOL

I have those days that I jump from one project to the next and really never get anything done as I am looking at other projects that I want to be making. Well sooner or later I will get all of them done. LOL

Put some music on in the background and have fun!

I think it is not so much ADHD as a quilting disorder. We are such intelligent people; we are like Albert Schweitzer. Didn't he have problems concentrating? :roll: :lol: :roll: Our minds are always creating and our fingers just can't keep up. Just go with the flow and enjoy it.

I am just the opposite,when I start piecing a quilt,I sew all day dont realize I am so tired til I stop. Then I crash. lol

Put your laptop in the freezer! LOL
David

WOW! I thought it was only me! It seems that when I start something I am obsessive about it for a few days, then POW loose interest. If I make a mistake, that's it.. finished with project. I wander around the house and get nothing done. Like you.. computer, phone, etc. I know that I have SAD and this becomes my excuse. Also I have many projects started and once I go onto another I totally loose interest in the one before. I have a new machine and all the notions you can think of. But...no motivation to get anything finished. Part of my problem is that there is no one who I can give a finished project to that would appreciate the time, money and effort that went into it. My family could care less. . I am pretty new at this and not to good at it, although I have at least 4 things I am proud of. . I will look at all the suggestions and try some. LOL

It's just so tempting to drop the problem solving and start something else! Sticking with a problem until it's solved is the only way I can keep myself from being distracted by a feather blowing by! And sometimes the answer doesn't come immediately. I guess the best thing is to not get yourself in too deep with so many things to finish everything becomes impossible. Takes a lot of impulse and self control.

I use a spiral of graph paper for a quilting book and put everything in it - pictures of blocks, layouts for quilts, notes for cutting and yardage, etc.

Right now, I believe I have three or four projects in there that are either in progress or on the chalkboard for after X project is done.

Right now, I'm looking forward to going back to a baby quilt I was working on before I got caught up in Christmas prezzies. Once that's done, I'm looking forward to doing a wedding quilt. After that, it's back to my quilted pillows...and the list goes on. If you tell yourself, "This project is shelved until I finish this other one," you're more motivated to finish the one so you can get to the other. Does that make sense?

There is something to be said for over-creating, lol.

I can stay in my studio forever, once i get in there, lol. Out here, too many distractions, like you mentioned. I can keep quilting till my back starts bothering me too much, or I am starving to death, lol, or my pups need a break. Otherwise, I do pretty good in there. Wish I could stay focused when trying to clean, but it just doesn't hold my interest, so I am easily distracted in that dept., & my house shows it, lol... What can I say, my heart, & mind, belong to quilting!...

A deadline (real or imagined) - even if I set it myself - helps. Like "I should finish that blue quilt before Christmas." Then after it's done, move on to another. Pack away other projects until you get one or two done, then move on to some UFO's or new projects. Works for me.

Make a list of what you want to accomplish; your goals. Then just make yourself stay on track. I am the same way, and this has helped me.
Merry Christmas!
Mariah.

Really the only way I can stay focused is to take a class or sew with my friend on a project.

I take my breaks here at the computer also.I call it resting,lol

The keyword is progress. If you make progress forward
on a project everyday, I think that's great. I know for
myself if I get too obsessed with something and don't
want to stop and do something else, I start getting sloppy, and you can't get sloppy in quilting. The project won't
turn out properly. Doing two or three blocks a day is
fine with me. Don't see anything wrong with it.

Two years from now when the quilt is done, do you think it's going to matter how long it took you to get there? You'll already be on to other projects and will have forgotten how long it took to do.

Keep up the good work.

Fifty blocks done out of 150. That means there's 90 left.
One a day for the next ninety days means the blocks will be
done some time in March. Again, one block a day. Even if
you just pick the material out for the block, do that.


I get myself overwhelmed with the enormity of a project, and
I find I need to cut it down to doing pieces at a time. That
works for me.

I read questions like this often. Is there something wrong with going from one thing to the next? I always figure that if you WANT to do something, you WILL do it. Apparently you would prefer to sew for a short time, do something else, or something else again, and then come back later. It's your time and your life. Spend it however you want! No rules.

I tried to just get caught up with a few important tasks that needed to be done so they were out of my way - then low and behold, some more came up - so finished those, and so the story goes. I'd set Nov. 1 as my date to begin quilting again - after a long hot humid summer of mowing, gardening, and having company one after the other....

Well, here it is almost January 1st. No quilting done to date - and still projects to be done - but you know something? from here on in, short of life or death - I'm going to begin quilting and to heck with the rest of it till spring! I want to do some quilting - and I will!

I just read your blog posting and what you've been going thru will certainly affect your focus. I'm in the same situation with my Dad, and some days I find myself wandering from task to task without even really remembering what I've done. Don't be so hard on yourself. Life will resettle into a routine - I'm counting on that!

I think a lot of us just have too much to do, and not enough time to get it done during the day. Between house work, computing, and running errands, it's hard to sit down and enjoy our crafts. Guess, we just have to change our priorities and start new resolutions for the coming year. ;)

I din't read all the replies, so I am sorry if this is a repeat. If you want to quilt for a longer time, try setting a timer. If you can make yourself sit for a half hour to begin with then set your timer to that time frame. Next time, add five more minutes. The next time add an additional five minutes. When you reach 45 minutes, stay at that for a few days then start increasing again. If your "two or three blocks" take more time than the half hour then start where you are comfortable and add time from there. Or just resign upirself that you need breaks and set a designated time when you will return to your sewing.

geesh, I want a dose of that! I get distracted easily and there are a million household things and a dh that are always calling to me.
I have found, like somebody said earlier: do smaller things to get that quicker feeling of finishing.
I plan to just do blocks from different projects in the coming year and after a while things will start to be finished.
Music helps me tremendously too.

HOw do I stay focused ???? I don't ! ! !

I have been soooo unmotivated for months now, especially tired, and have so much to do. Just can't seem to get my a-- in gear.

Maybe if we could all get together we would get something done. My house or yours? I will put on the kettle.

Sorry I don't have that problem, Mine is when I'm busy with patchwork or quilting is to forget the food on the stove, anybody else the same?