I usually spend a lot of time finding the right image to go with the post
I’m going to write, but today I didn’t feel like it, so I just chose an image
I like that has nothing to do with anything.

If you like this image, click on it and you can download the larger version.

I’m overwhelmed right now.  Since I’m not good at organizing my time
and my priorities it is causing me a lot of stress. I really need to get
organized!

Between getting ready for Christmas and starting my wedding plans,
I am feeling like a chicken with its head cut off.. running here and
there and not able to focus on anything long enough to feel like I
got much accomplished.

What I’m longing for is several days in a row that I had nothing else
to do but create!

I feel a little embarrased that I’m so disorganized that I can’t just
capture some time each day to do art.  How do you other artists
manage your art time?  I seem to be an all-or-nothing type person.
If I’m doing art, then everything else goes by the wayside.  I come
“to” later and my house is a wreck and my bills aren’t paid.. etc, etc.

This is a trait about myself that I’ve disliked for a very long time.
Therehave been other traits that I’ve disliked and I was eventually
able to just accept the ones that I couldn’t change.  But this one
haunts me because I don’t seem to be able to either accept or
change it.

So, that’s what I’m dealing with today and hope that some of
my readers have some great suggestions for me.

This week I have been trying desperately to get organized.   Well.. if “trying” means thinking about it a lot.  My physical environment is a mess.  I go to Mister’s on the weekends so there is always some form of half-unpacked luggage around.  There are clothes in various states of cleanliness in piles around. And, of course, all the “in progress” art projects everywhere.

And that’s just the beginning!  There’s the need to organize my time.  And set priorities on the projects I’m doing.  Then there are the friends I haven’t written or called and the people I want to have lunch with.

AGGGHHHH!!!  I feel overwhelmed.  That is why the image above spoke to me so loudly.  If I only did one thing toward my goals (playlike I have some goals) today, then  in a week I’d be ahead of where I’ve gotten the past week.

So, how does someone who has a brain that constantly distracts itself by thinking up new, fun things to do every moment,  really start to get organized?  I did a little research because I know that the typical organizational tools don’t work for me and probably don’t for other right-brained people either.  Seeing a spreadsheet, for example, just makes me want to jump out of my skin.  I start using organizational systems that typical people use and before long I feel like I’m in a box and my rebellious side pipes up and starts plotting escape plans.

In my research I found this planner by Keri Smith.  It still does have some boxes but at least they aren’t neat.  And the system encourages drawing and being messy, so I’m thinking I’ll give it a try.

Yes, once again she believes if she just finds the right tools she, too, can be organized and productive

If you have an idea, tips, suggestions or a system that works for you, by all means, please share it with me!