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Sleepytime Journal #7
14 years ago
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Don't wait for the queue to shrink—the commission docket is rarely empty.Sleepytime journal #7
Ten things I'm thankful for today:
-
limecustard got her wedding dress and really seems to like it. And like a sweetie, she offered it to me to have it tailored to me if and when Cory and I ever have a legitimate ceremony. That was really kind of her. But I can't wait to see it on her, really. It sounds very pretty.
-Getting my birth facts certificate (needed it for new job) was very easy. Yes, I had to get up at 6:45 AM when I went to bed at 1:30 AM, and I was exhausted and miserable for most of the day, but getting there that damn early means there's pretty much no one there, and nothing terrible happened.
-I finally got done drawing for those raffle sketches for the last 3 months I missed! I can't believe I forgot for so long. <3 I love everyone on my list, but I'm excited to reward everybody for their responses.
-I read a book about the GTD method (getting things done) that hasn't done so much for me in the actual time management department in the way it teaches (it's mostly for "work" projects and people who struggle with multiple projects at their office jobs), but it taught me something REALLY valuable that has absolutely saved my sanity and turned me from panicky and anxious to blissful in the face of adversity: our brains have long-term memory and short-term memory, obviously, but the latter is exactly like RAM: we can only store so much, and unless we file away important thoughts or needs in a reliable, organized place, things will subconsciously bug us and take away our focus. Once I learned this and put certain methods to use, not only did I feel more organized, I felt free to not stress about anything that had been hovering so long at the back of my mind. It's really true -- if you have a system and you trust it, filing away every thought (no matter how seemingly insignificant) keeps that RAM clear and leaves you free to ABSOLUTELY FOCUS on whatever task you have at hand. I seriously feel like I'm on anti-depressants. It's fucking amazing.
-On that note, I got absolutely every little thing I need to have recorded in Evernote. Every stray .txt file, every OneNote notebook, every snippet of writing, To Do list, bill, plan, commission reference, record, etc., all filed appropriately and tagged with easily accessible and searchable context. With all of that squirreled away, and knowing I have it tucked away safely, my brain has been absolutely free to pick one thing and focus on it 100%. No insecurities, no worries, no doubts. If I have an idea, remember something I need to buy, realize there's a bill I haven't paid, it goes into the file and out of my "RAM". And I go right back to the task at hand. It's one of those things you really can't understand until you've experienced it, but I seriously recommend you do the same. Do one hour of Googling on "GTD" and "Evernote". It will change the way you live. If a spaz like me can say that... you get what I'm saying. ESPECIALLY if you are an artist who struggles with keeping up with notes about their commissioners. Evernote will save your life. No more digging through FA notes trying to find the one that contains that one guy's reference links. Just trust me.
-Even though I got barely six hours of sleep and got up at 6:45, here I am, and I'm feeling pretty decent. This is a good sign. I didn't exactly leap back into art today, but I organized the SHIT out of my life, and that bodes well for everybody who's got any connection with me.
-My Cadbury eggs this season, so far, haven't been disgusting. (That one's for you,
orange04.)
-Topher and Echo ate their carrots last night. I guess they're just picky on SOME days!
-I had two novel ideas today. Neither are amazing, someday-best-sellers, but both were interesting enough to keep coming back to me, and writing them down and filing them away felt good. Knowing they're there, waiting for the right day, is really comforting.
-I got to have a smoothie from Jamba Juice today. :D A little thing, but when you're dying from lack of sleep and stressed from running around town, it's really more awesome than you realize til you're enjoying it.
Bonus:
-I got approved for a dinky little credit card. A small victory. I manage these things well, but only recently have I figured out (through intense Googling and research) how to make things like that happen.
One nice thing someone else did for me today:
limecustard got herself up at the ass-crack of dawn to come pick me up and take me to pick up a new birth certificate, even though right now she's stressing over getting prepared for a very-soon-wedding for which she has had little time to prepare. It was nice to see her again, and even though I was tired, she really saved my ass at the last minute (I needed it by Wednesday and we have no car) and I was really, really appreciative. She never fails to come through, and I hope someday I can return the favor.
One nice thing I did for someone else today:
I picked up the tab at breakfast while she was in the restroom! Bahahah! Sniped!
Ten things I'm thankful for today:
-
limecustard got her wedding dress and really seems to like it. And like a sweetie, she offered it to me to have it tailored to me if and when Cory and I ever have a legitimate ceremony. That was really kind of her. But I can't wait to see it on her, really. It sounds very pretty.-Getting my birth facts certificate (needed it for new job) was very easy. Yes, I had to get up at 6:45 AM when I went to bed at 1:30 AM, and I was exhausted and miserable for most of the day, but getting there that damn early means there's pretty much no one there, and nothing terrible happened.
-I finally got done drawing for those raffle sketches for the last 3 months I missed! I can't believe I forgot for so long. <3 I love everyone on my list, but I'm excited to reward everybody for their responses.
-I read a book about the GTD method (getting things done) that hasn't done so much for me in the actual time management department in the way it teaches (it's mostly for "work" projects and people who struggle with multiple projects at their office jobs), but it taught me something REALLY valuable that has absolutely saved my sanity and turned me from panicky and anxious to blissful in the face of adversity: our brains have long-term memory and short-term memory, obviously, but the latter is exactly like RAM: we can only store so much, and unless we file away important thoughts or needs in a reliable, organized place, things will subconsciously bug us and take away our focus. Once I learned this and put certain methods to use, not only did I feel more organized, I felt free to not stress about anything that had been hovering so long at the back of my mind. It's really true -- if you have a system and you trust it, filing away every thought (no matter how seemingly insignificant) keeps that RAM clear and leaves you free to ABSOLUTELY FOCUS on whatever task you have at hand. I seriously feel like I'm on anti-depressants. It's fucking amazing.
-On that note, I got absolutely every little thing I need to have recorded in Evernote. Every stray .txt file, every OneNote notebook, every snippet of writing, To Do list, bill, plan, commission reference, record, etc., all filed appropriately and tagged with easily accessible and searchable context. With all of that squirreled away, and knowing I have it tucked away safely, my brain has been absolutely free to pick one thing and focus on it 100%. No insecurities, no worries, no doubts. If I have an idea, remember something I need to buy, realize there's a bill I haven't paid, it goes into the file and out of my "RAM". And I go right back to the task at hand. It's one of those things you really can't understand until you've experienced it, but I seriously recommend you do the same. Do one hour of Googling on "GTD" and "Evernote". It will change the way you live. If a spaz like me can say that... you get what I'm saying. ESPECIALLY if you are an artist who struggles with keeping up with notes about their commissioners. Evernote will save your life. No more digging through FA notes trying to find the one that contains that one guy's reference links. Just trust me.
-Even though I got barely six hours of sleep and got up at 6:45, here I am, and I'm feeling pretty decent. This is a good sign. I didn't exactly leap back into art today, but I organized the SHIT out of my life, and that bodes well for everybody who's got any connection with me.
-My Cadbury eggs this season, so far, haven't been disgusting. (That one's for you,
orange04.)-Topher and Echo ate their carrots last night. I guess they're just picky on SOME days!
-I had two novel ideas today. Neither are amazing, someday-best-sellers, but both were interesting enough to keep coming back to me, and writing them down and filing them away felt good. Knowing they're there, waiting for the right day, is really comforting.
-I got to have a smoothie from Jamba Juice today. :D A little thing, but when you're dying from lack of sleep and stressed from running around town, it's really more awesome than you realize til you're enjoying it.
Bonus:
-I got approved for a dinky little credit card. A small victory. I manage these things well, but only recently have I figured out (through intense Googling and research) how to make things like that happen.
One nice thing someone else did for me today:
limecustard got herself up at the ass-crack of dawn to come pick me up and take me to pick up a new birth certificate, even though right now she's stressing over getting prepared for a very-soon-wedding for which she has had little time to prepare. It was nice to see her again, and even though I was tired, she really saved my ass at the last minute (I needed it by Wednesday and we have no car) and I was really, really appreciative. She never fails to come through, and I hope someday I can return the favor.One nice thing I did for someone else today:
I picked up the tab at breakfast while she was in the restroom! Bahahah! Sniped!
Great to hear you found a way to reduce the stress in keeping up with all your commission work. I can't wait to hear how much your productivity has improved from this new organization method you are using. A relaxed and creative artist can make some amazing stuff - I have artistic friends that have shown me that.