Why can't I finish anything?

Sounds to me like you need to reward yourself with something to get yourself to finish. It's a game, but it works for me.

Sunny, I go through those funky times too! Sometimes I think it's because it's a stage of the project I don't enjoy, and just thinking about it wears me out! Other times I know what has to be done, but I haven't done it before and have to work through the whole process in my head for days before I get the courage to tackle it. And sometimes it's just because I'm not that crazy about the project and see no reason to get it done. Besides, you HAVE finished something - your dishes are done and put away, the laundry is done, and the dog is fed. You've accomplished quite a lot!

Death by hem! Silly girl! Death by cleaning perhaps, or death by cooking, but not death by hem!

You're not alone. This week-end I finally got around to hemming 3 pair of slacks that have been on a hanger, just waiting to be hemmed, for over 3 years. It'll get done eventually!! Gen

Maybe your psyche is demanding a break from "responsibilites" after your septic tank ordeal.

ep

Sunny, I understand funk. And the "finish it up avoidance" syndrome. Do you have any plans for "what's next?" or are you at the stage where you have the (subconscious) feeling that if you finish this project(s) then you won't have another to work on? Sometimes planning ahead and telling yourself you really want (not need) to finish what is on your plate so you can work on something new and exciting helps. Sometimes I avoid finishing something because I am afraid it won't be "good enough" or I will mess up the project as I finish it. All sorts of reasons. Spend some time thinking about other stuff to do. You have been through a stressful time, and are still worried about the financial aspects, even if not actively/consciously. It may take some time to work your way through it. It may even be that you are fighting yourself with "have to" as opposed to "want to" (something my DH has pointed out to me about myself. ) Go ahead and do some of what you want to do, the "have tos" will eventually get done.

Have fun, Pati, in Phx

On May 10, 9:39=A0am, Sunny wrote:

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe it's time to sit in the sun with a cup of tea (or your beverage of choice!) and just RELAX. You sure do deserve it.

Allison

Edna Pearl wrote:

Maybe it's just curtains. I hate sewing curtains. Right now, no kidding, we have a sheet of limousine window film clothes-pinned to a rod in front of our kitchen window. Sunshine bounces from our garage and will just blind us if that window doesn't have some deflection/protection whatever. I could make curtains... naaahhhh. When that film decomposes, I'll probably just roll out another sheet and replace it. Did I mention I HATE curtains. Can't do it. No method or bribe or self-criticism is going to improve me. So there. Join me, Sunny. Heck with a 12-step program. Let 'em carry us off to Curtain Prison. Polly

"Taria" Oh Sunny, I imagine you are just coming down from a trying time. Still has

hey, thanks for that idea, Polly. our long kitchen window faces due east and gets the morning sun full on in your face, it too is blinding if you pick the wrong time to make a cuppa tea. great idea. i just told dh. now all i gotta do is get him to stop at the garden centre and buy some shade cloth for that job. could be used in the garden after winter when the sun is the worst blinder season. thanks again for that idea. now i also gotta figure out how i'd hang it there so it looked not too shabby. i'm sure i'll work it out, just need the stuff to work with asap. j.

"Polly Esther" wrote ... Maybe it's just curtains. I hate sewing curtains. Right now, no kidding, we have a sheet of limousine window film clothes-pinned to a rod in front of our kitchen window. Sunshine bounces from our garage and will just blind us if that window doesn't have some deflection/protection whatever. I could make curtains... naaahhhh. When that film decomposes, I'll probably just roll out another sheet and replace it. Did I mention I HATE curtains. Can't do it. No method or bribe or self-criticism is going to improve me. So there. Join me, Sunny. Heck with a 12-step program. Let 'em carry us off to Curtain Prison. Polly

The other gals said it best...take a break, sit in the sun, play in the dirt, plant things, and take a breather from "projects" for a bit! It just might be the inspiration you need to get the creative juices flowing again.....Donna

not sure that is sold retail here nor would i have a clue where to find it. i'll some checking tho. could be an alternative for sure. thanks, Taria. i dont hate curtains at all. that window being in the kitchen makes curtains need to be removed and washed so often tho. what a pita on such a long window. the film would probably be much better than the shade cloth if i can find it here. j.

"Taria" wrote ... I like to make curta> hey, thanks for that idea, Polly.

It is over in the automotive section. The original purpose has to do with a cheap/temporary way to tint the windows in your vehicle. There are two kinds - one just sort of slaps on and easily peels off. We keep strips of that one in our vehicles to cover a harsh light that evades the sun visors. The kind we're using on the kitchen window was one I accidentally bought and is the wrong kind for on/off car windows. I think maybe you're supposed to wet the window and apply it sort of semi-permanently. ( It doesn't go on or come off readily.) Anyhow. I really did clothespin a length of it in front of the kitchen window on a rod and it works a charm. We can still enjoy the bluebirds, the occasional eagle and a funny gaggle of doves who are teaching their young to hunt. The film doesn't need hemming, doesn't obstruct the view. If it gets splattered with Easter egg dye or spaghetti sauce, we just wipe it down or replace it. A happy no-curtain solution. Polly

Polly, I love your idea about sun-film for windows instead of curtains. I've never been sure why God invented curtains -- they get dusty and grubby if they're in the kitchen and need to be changed every so often just because of running out of color. But the curtains that have kept me busy lately are all needed for privacy. All three bathrooms were in sad disarray before the septic problems, and it seemed a good thing to spiffy them up when the loan appraiser was coming out. As a result, there's new paint, some plaster touch-ups in places and new floor covering in the downstairs bath that my oldest son uses. Of course, that was necessary because that was the room that let us know rather graphically that the septic was no longer accepting deliveries. Enough said.

So my DH waded in and did a great job of muscling the bathrooms into shape. And in the process threw away the old curtains and bath mats and shower curtains. Soooooooooo, I went in the downstairs bath one day to see an old table cloth tacked over the window, which is just over the tub and is HUGE. Gads. I can't have that. So I ran upstairs to see what the other offspring had over his window and found .... nothing. Oh lovely. I'm sure the neighbors have had an opportunity for an interesting view a couple times. Sigh. Well, you'll be pleased to know that the curtains are finished now. I got over the hem hump today and now both bathrooms are at least modest.

And the curtains in my bedroom came about through a longgggg process. A friend announced at guild meeting that she was making quilts to give to the Seattle Children's Hospital where our local kiddos go for serious disease treatment. People started dropping off free fabric for her, some of which was wonderful and some of which was questionable. One such donation was the end of a roll of decorator fabric, 60" wide. She gave it to me and it's been standing in a corner since then. I was on my way to put it in a Goodwill box when I realized the pattern looked sort of familiar. Yeah, it's the same as my duvet cover. Well, glorioskies, I had to make some easy curtains for my windows. There was just enough and now they're really nice and romantic looking.

That's the story. I've also got two tiny wall hanging things ready to put bindings on. Maybe tomorrow. I'll post photos if I get them done.

For tonight, I may just take everybody's good advice and sit and do nothing and not feel guilty about not doing anything. Novel idea, but it might catch on.

Love and hugs and gratitude to good friends, Sunny

I use tension rods a lot for windows where I am unable to fix a curtain track. They come in various length ranges and unscrew to fit the window. They fit perfectly tightly between the window reveals - provided there isn't too much weight on them. There is no fixing to them at all. I love them. Making a casing on the shading will be no problem, then just thread the rod through it and put it up into the window 'hollow'. Tighten the screw fixing (by hand) - the whole rod-end turns.

I'm really into DIY at the moment >gghey, thanks for that idea, Polly.

I like tension rods too - just put one up in the downstairs cloakroom that has just had frosted window and nothing else, and also used them in the inside hall to kitchen window where it takes a little 17" x 36" quilt/wallhanging/curtain quite happily. I have a tension rod in the bottom of that too, so it hangs really smoothly.

Sally at the Seaside ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk

Pat S wrote:

Sunny, one of the things I've learned recently that helps me get stuff finished is THE ACTION PLAN. Put simply, it's a list that I make, therefore it has on it only the things I want to finish or accomplish, and it's worded in past tense. like: May 15...I have finished the giraffe May 22...I have posted pictures of new project

etc. Instead of the multitude of unfinished projects constantly floating around in your head, you have the luxury of focusing on only one. works for me.

Musicmaker

Yes, Pat, I like tension rods, also. This apartment has two 6' wide windows [one in living room area, one in bedroom] To create a lightweight curtain to hang inside the "box" I used shower curtain rods, since they are sturdier and will expand to that width. Still tension, but allow that space to be covered.

G> I use tension rods a lot for windows where I am unable to fix a curtain

On Mon, 10 May 2010 13:08:24 -0500, Edna Pearl wrote (in article ):

That's just what I was thinking! I bet you are just worn out from the whole septic tank ordeal. I'd just take a break for a day or two and see how you feel.

Maureen