On becoming a finisher

Erin over at Unclutterer posted her third quarter resolutions this morning.

• Identify all of my unfinished projects.
• Finish ALL of my unfinished projects.
• Take on no new projects until all old projects are finished.

Anyone who knows me at all will not be surprised that those resolutions resonate with me. I have always struggled with finishing. My childhood bedroom (much like my home today) was filled with half-read books, half-sewn clothes, and craft projects in various states of completion. It took me an extra 11 years to graduate from college. Every now and then an uncluttering project unearths another notebook filled with ideas or lists of things to finish before I start something else. I spent much of June starting new knitting projects instead of finishing any of the nearly completed ones—that I want to wear. Even the half-marathon training project got side-tracked by a bad cold and business travel after the first month.

I'm not sure how well I will do at identifying all of my unfinished projects because I so rarely finish anything. I will maintain a running list of unfinished projects here at least through October. This will help me track my progress and force me to make decisions about abandoning projects that just aren't working. I will cross off the projects I finish or abandon and add new ones as I come across them. I don't think it's possible to list everything without tossing the entire house in the process.

I will finish things. Or I will abandon them and do something appropriate with the stuff associated with that project.

I know myself. Starting nothing new until every UFO is finished will not happen. There are days when I crave the feeling of new yarn on my needles or new fiber slipping through my fingers. At work, I rarely have control of when a new project will land on my desk or in my inbox. I will strive to keep the startitis under control and switch to a different unfinished project when I feel that urge to start something new.

My resolutions for the next 3 to 6 months:

• Maintain a mostly public running list of projects. I will keep a separate, non-public, list of work projects, but everything else will be posted to the list.
• Finish things.
• Be mindful about starting new projects. As Is there something already in progress that will do? before diving in.

Please keep me accountable to these plans.

Comments

[Aesox]

It is a noble quest! Sounds like you are poised for success!

[Sara F]

Girlfriend, you can do it. It really helps to have friends hold you accountable. As for the half marathon training, sign up for dailymile.com and "friend" me, I'll help motivate you there. :D I did a very short (got sidetracked speaking to a neighbor) run this morning and it felt so good. Now for my unfinished projects...I have to unearth them from the basement remodel! Love ya,
cuz