The lead up to Christmas can be such a hectic time that we save up all our relaxing for the day after. Boxing Day in Australia usually means hang overs or early mornings to hit the post Christmas sales. For me, I like to spend those few days between Christmas and New Years taking a few deep breaths and taking stock of what has gone before. What has worked and what hasn’t. It is less about making resolutions for the new year than it is about thinking of the things I would have liked to have had time for and figuring out how to make that happen.
I’m also choosing to extend my Christmas glow this year well into the new year, by having friends and family join me on my return to Melbourne for yet another “Christmas ” party. That is, a chance to chill out with my puppies and nearest and dearest instead of running around with days full of commitments. It seems only fitting to enter a new decade with a fresh perspective, a new modus operandi if you will. So many of us feel compelled to start each new year placing more and more expectations on ourselves only to be sadly disappointed with our lack of achievements come the following December. And while I believe that a good plan is the key to success, it isn’t the be all and end all. So in a some what contradictory fashion, I have come up with a plan to do away with a the pressure of a plan. (Stick with me, it is just the way my brain works).
There are loads of things I want to do this year, but instead of looking at the things I want to do, I am focusing on how I want them to make me feel. For instance; my studio is full of materials and good intentions that have not been touched in the last twelve months. I am itching to get stuck into some good projects and finish many of those that were started several years ago. Ordinarily, I tend to put myself under pressure to get things done once I start them, often tackling only those projects that can be finished in one day so that I feel ‘complete’. What the last year has taught me is that working this way means I often spend what should be enjoyable, therapeutic creative time, being crabby and time pressured; snapping at people around me and not enjoying the process. So the upshot of all this is that if I focus on enjoying the process, then no matter how long it takes to finish something it will still be a success and I will still have found the benefit I set out to achieve. Ergo, success through a lack of traditional, externally quantifiable goal posts. (Clearly I am onto my third espresso of the morning here – or I have been watching too much holiday special Frasier).
I’ll be interested to see just how well this works for me being a rather driven, list making, type A personality. But whatever happens, you know you’re along for the ride!
*I’m still in Sydney, eating too much, sleeping little and finding excuses to dress up. I’ll have lots of pretty pictures on my return home to my super speedy internet connection.*
Thanks SKM for reminding me that it’s the start to a new decade! My Father always preached ~ ALWAYS set attainable goals! ~ I will pass this on to you!!!
It’s always a great feeling to have accomplished!! I’ve learned over the past decade how important follow through is!! Thanks for reinforcing this!!! Happy New Year!
Me too.. I’m extending as well…to the second week in January. My tree arrived late… we leave on vay-cay later tonight.. just a few days.. but I am totally milking it…
I hope you had a Happy Christmas.. extend. extend darling..
Motherhood is like that, isn’t it? We have to be more flexible… I find with my projects in the studio, I’ve had to get it clear in my head that I don’t have to finish something just because I’m in there. It’s ok if I just do whatever my time allows, and I’ve given myself permission to come back to it anytime I want to.
Have a very Happy New Year!
I think its an excellent philosophy mama! So often we focus so much on the completion of a task or event that we don’t actually enjoy the process!
Have a wondeful new year
I decided something similar a little while ago. And I have to say: It’s doing me good. I’m working on a coat now and even though it’s progressing even slower than I thought before (with sicknesses that intervened, and all the partying of this time), I really enjoy enjoying the process, instead of focussing on the quick result only. It feels like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders since I was able to let go just a little (and yes, I’m a real neurotic perfectionist as well). I hope you’ll experience the same! Happy holidays!
I hope that is one of your puppies; so CUTE!!!! Anyway, sounds like a good plan for the New Year; life itself piles enough rubbish and expectation on us that the last thing anyone needs it to pile more pressure on themselves.
A new decade (slightly terrifying thought!) is definitely a time to try and take it bit easy and enjoy life rather than rushing through it!
Nice cavvy!
I think you’ll be very surprised with how much you get done, in relation to sewing/craft projects with your new philosphy… awhile ago I stopped pressuring myself to get things done all-in-one-go… I decided to always due the TINIEST step possible that was still in a forward direction. Those tiny steps add up quicker than you’d imagine. And the frustration feelings are all but eliminated. PLUS, you make far fewer mistakes! We are lucky that we are sewing for pleasure, not forced sewers in sweatshops, so its a little silly to make ourselves feel as though we are under time-pressure.
A great quote I read a little while ago by sewing teacher Cythia Guffey puts it really well- “It’s your hobby, what’s your hurry?”
Have a lovely New Year
)
Well I loved this positive post of yours! I have some of the same personality traits you posses
(Type A, lists, lists, lists!) and I am a bit over the stress that comes with the expectations all my planning sometimes brings to my family and myself.
I am planning to soon blog about approaching the New Year in a much more balanced fashion full of good and relaxed intentions!
Good luck to you and your endeavors in the New Year! I’d say you’ve had a great past year and I look forward to see what you enlighten us with in this Year. Love your work!
I think I can tune into that kind of feelings…the big stress of getting things completed, making long and long and long and long to-do-list, and becoming stressed until i get moody and don’t want to do any work at all!
Indeed I have forgotten to enjoy the process.
All the best to you! Have a wonderful year ahead!
I gave you an award over at my blog. You probably already have this one though.
http://vintagestarlet.blogspot.com/2009/12/another-ba-thank-you_29.html