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-   -   How do you organize your time? (https://www.quiltingboard.com/mission-organization-f23/how-do-you-organize-your-time-t300173.html)

stillvnu 10-13-2018 06:57 PM

So many good suggestions posted here … certainly food for thought. I like to prep things for hand sewing so I can take it with me when I am out visiting, in the car (not the driver), waiting for an appointment, etc. Working on putting up a design wall to see my progress.

Clarice29 10-14-2018 05:42 AM

I am not very organized but I do not have any UFOs. When I start something I really work to get it finished. I often get delayed by things my family need but I go right back to my to my project until the end. I am often called on to knit something or mend so I do have to put off the sewing but it is always back to the project. All knitting projects I do in the evening or little rest periods in the afternoon.

KalamaQuilts 10-14-2018 01:15 PM

I love being retired and finished with parent caregiving, life is pretty much play time now.
That said, I well know how time can get away from me, so the only serious organizing I do is limit myself to two hours on line a day.
Try it! You'll find you have all kinds of time :)

QuiltE 10-15-2018 09:27 AM

Try reversing your priorities/must-do's with your really-want-to-do's but not priorities.
Typically, we do the priorities first in the day,
then afterwards allow ourselves to do the things we really want to do!

There's an old adage, known as Parkinson's Law that states ...
Work expands to fill the time available.

I discovered when I started the day with the priorities, sometimes, those priorities seemingly
would take forever and might not even get onto the more pleasing things I really wanted to do!

Strange enough, when I reversed the order, and did what I wanted earlier ...
I still found the time for the must-do's of the day ...
... and surprisingly, they took a lot less time!

Funny how that can work to our advantage! :)

Darcyshannon 11-06-2018 09:43 PM


Originally Posted by QuiltE (Post 8143549)
Try reversing your priorities/must-do's with your really-want-to-do's but not priorities.
Typically, we do the priorities first in the day,
then afterwards allow ourselves to do the things we really want to do!

There's an old adage, known as Parkinson's Law that states ...
Work expands to fill the time available.

I discovered when I started the day with the priorities, sometimes, those priorities seemingly
would take forever and might not even get onto the more pleasing things I really wanted to do!

Strange enough, when I reversed the order, and did what I wanted earlier ...
I still found the time for the must-do's of the day ...
... and surprisingly, they took a lot less time!

Funny how that can work to our advantage! :)

Yes, I was starting the day with sewing for a while and everything still got done. May need to try that again

jdeery 11-10-2018 09:16 AM

I just retired and that is a problem for me, but what I have been doing is housework, wash, dishes I do until noon, eat lunch then I go to my sewing room till about 4, then start dinner. That way I don’t feel the quilt of sewing when I should be doing something else. And I get my therapy for the day!

toverly 11-10-2018 12:22 PM

One of the best timesavers I have done is to make a list of ufo's and where they are in completion. Most of the time they need to be sandwiched which takes a big chunk but sometimes, they only need a label. This way, if I only have 30 minutes, I can get something done or at least on to the next phase of completion.

romanojg 11-11-2018 05:53 AM


Originally Posted by Moira in N.E. England (Post 8142388)
SillySusan has said exactly what I was going to say - your sewing time should be a relaxing time for you.

There are only 24 hours in a day and, at the moment, not many of them can be used as ‘Me-Time’. Could you possibly explain to your family that you need some time to yourself - perhaps one afternoon or a few hours a week - so that you can have a break from your commitments and do something you want to do?

It is great that your studio is so well organised. This means that whenever you can escape there you will not waste time searching for something you need.

I agree, I work full time, have 3 days off and I live alone. With the exception of my dog and cat. But I still help out on my days off with grand kids, picking them up from school, over night visits, helping my daughter out, etc. If I had no family, I'd have lots of time to sew, quilt and emb but I wouldn't be as happy. When I see my 3yr old grandson's face when I'm the one picking him up, not sewing is so worth it. I am trying now to get my whole house organized, one room at a time. Then when I have time I don't feel so bad if I haven't cleaned for the day. Let yourself off the hook. Life happens.

ube quilting 11-11-2018 02:21 PM

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

tuckyquilter 11-16-2018 02:20 PM

You have a lot happening at your home: BUT since you asked about Time Management: I clean as I go. Bathroom upstairs before I come down daily, same for the Downstairs before I go up at night. Laundry goes into garage and when there is enough for a full load - I wash, not before. I make large quantities of meals and freeze some for later use. As for Quilting? I'm divorced with grown kids BUT I do keep a schedule of sorts.
I sew for various groups and I devote the once a month day of the mtg (ie Mon, Sat etc) to sewing the other days of the month to that charity/group. That might mean making backing, sandwiching or FMQ all things related to the quilts for that group, on that day. It helps keep me heading in the right direction and making progress on the various quilts.

Mon: Quilts of Valor
Tues: Guild & Student I'm teaching to Quilt
Fri: Project Linus
Sat: Hospital Quilting Angels
Wed/Thur: My days to do my own projects or clean up one of the other days.

Just for ha-ha's Check out Jordan Page on Youtube: She is young, with a bunch of kids and has some great hints on organization etc. I've learned a few things from her, so I guess you CAN teach an old Dog new tricks.

But Quilting is not a race: It's for your pleasure and maybe charity. Try to enjoy all of the elements in your life, as life is fleeting. and God Bless your home with tranquility.


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