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Weddingbee Blog
*Shuffles to microphone and looks down at her feet*
Hi, my name is Miss Bunny and I have trouble finishing what I start.
I have stacks upon stacks of half-finished projects in my closet — a scrapbook for my high school best friend, a stained glass window for my grandmother, a bag full of clothes that I said I would alter rather than toss. Yeah. None of that happened.
FAIL, as they say on the ‘net.
I get distracted, I guess. I moved away and stopped talking to my high school friend. It was much too dangerous to work on the stained glass window in my carpeted apartment, I reasoned. And I just never got around to finding someone to alter those too-big skirts after I lost 35 pounds a few years ago (but hey, I’ve gained some of that weight back so maybe they’ll fit again — doh!).
I worked FOR-EV-ER ago on our save the dates (Sandlot, anyone?).
I spent two days designing the backs of them to look like vintage postcards, and then I never printed and mailed them.
First my scanner wasn’t working, so I couldn’t scan in the postcard I wanted to use. Then I decided it was too late to send out Save the Dates for our July wedding.
I was thinking last night, though. Why couldn’t I email out save the dates to some friends and family? It wouldn’t cost us a penny in postage.
So at least I’ll follow through on one thing. I said I would show you the front of the card, and I will!
I whipped these up in just a few minutes using the same font I’m working with for our invitations.
I’m kind of terrified that this awful habit of mine will plague me for the rest of my life — the one I’ll soon tie to Mr. B’s. I don’t want it to be a weight, always holding us back. I don’t want to be the wife with a closet full of old clothes who never got around to making those scrapbooks for her children.
What tricks do you use to combat a lack of follow-through?
I’m a lister. I carry a planner with me (as a teacher), and in the farthest column, I keep a running to do list with a box next to each item. In the box, sometimes I number the items based on priority, and then you can check the box when you’ve finished the task.
I’m a visual person. 
Just do it. Once you get to doing, it gets done. That is half the battle. Just do it.
I am feeling like my save-the-dates will never get mailed either. I have them assembled and ready (almost, still missing 25), but I’m waiting on my mother of all people for a few more addresses. I guess it is more my anal retentiveness that I do not want to send miscellaneous ones and then not remember who I’ve already done. (Like I’d really forget). We’re down to 9 1/2 months until the wedding! EEK!
I do lack follow-through as well, but I have no tricks. Yet. I am hoping I will develop some and not leave my DIY projects for the wedding unfinished!
What a beautiful image! How lovely. As far as finishing what you start, sometricks that help me… 1)Don’t take on too much in the first place 2)Plan out the steps to finish 3)Keep emotions out of it and just do it!
For things like scrapbooking, I join a crop club and go on weekend crops. I set time aside just to work on them!
Deadlines. Pressure. Short notice. Those are the things that get this procrastinating, non-finishing things girl to get her butt in gear. Bad advice, I know, but it works for me.
I too have unfinished projects intended for high school friends who I no longer talk to (it’s been 8 years since high school) which are most likely sitting in the bottom of the closet in m old bedroom at my parents’ house. However, since I’ve lived with my FI I finish all the projects I start. He is actually the motivation because he only encourages more projects once he sees the result of current projects. For example, I like to paint as a hobby and when I decided I wanted to start painting again he initially limited my spending on paints but when he saw that I was actually painting and he liked the result, my Christmas present involved several painting supplies I would never buy for myself. I guess the encouragement and the fact that I like finished projects really helps me reach my goal. Maybe you can get your FI on board too!
Miss Bunny, I feel like I’m operating on an open loop, too. I start things, and I start things, and I start things. a few get done, but the rest are in the wash! I’m with tessabella76, though - if I have short notice, or lots of pressure, I finish something in a snap!
If you actually want to break the habit, get a calendar and write the project on it, and 3 months later write it again, with a giant X the following week. If you haven’t done it in 3 months, you get one week to get it done or get rid of it. At the X, get rid of the un-altered clothes etc.
Oh man, I have squares of fabric cut out because I decided to take up quilting. The only thing I actually made was a kit to hold my knitting needles (although I don’t knit much because I have carpal tunnel).
I have found that the only way I finish stuff is that I complete it as quickly as possible. Within three days of receiving our STDs, I had addressed, stamped, and mailed all 85.
Oh, and I have a mother who nags. We sent out our STDs ONLY 5 months ahead of time. Can you imagine!
I feel you, Miss Bunny! I have a quilt 3/4 of the way finished, piles of clothes that I was going to donate months ago, half-done cross-stitch (started that, oh, about 4 years ago for my mom), multiple in-progress scrapbooks, etc. I’m definitely a list-maker but I rarely use the lists. Usually I just wait until the last minute to finish something and stress myself out. Or I get re-interested in a project months later (if it’s not something I HAD to finish for a certain date) and vow to finish it. I definitely need to work on this character flaw.
Cute and I definitely read “FOR-EV-ER” excatly how it should be!
i haven’t been able to say forever the “correct way” since watching the sandlot!
i’m notorious for not finishing projects. i’m more of a starter than anything else. i just have to keep myself interested in the project. as long as i care about it, i’ll finish working on it
Like JennyBryde, I’m notorious for making lists. Unlike JennyBryde, I lack following through and checking things off. So, I’m not much better than you.
Well, I can tell you that it took me at least an hour to actually read your entire post. Not because I was uninterested - I am! - but because you provided me with Failblog…haha.
And I only say For-ev-er in that way since seeing Sandlot, too.
If I’m not on a time crunch, nothing gets done. Even if I have plenty of time, I need the pressure. But lists also work for me.
Keep things as simple as possible! That is my advice…I am exactly the same!
I also have trouble with follow through, and create lists and then take months or years to cross them off, especially if there is no real deadline. While procrastinating on my dissertation, I read a very good book on overcoming procrastination. One of the tips was to not make your goal finishing, but just actually spending time on the task! So, spend a half hour working on the dissertation, not FINISH the dissertation (or save the dates or what have you). So you are more likely to feel a sense of accomplishment and that will give you more momentum than thinking about how you didn’t finish.
I force myself not to start another project until I finish the one before it. It kinda sucks but it does the trick!
Btw: I totally use the “FOR-EV-ER” emphasis + the echo from The Sandlot! Yes, I’m a dork!
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Mrs. Bunny, Columbus Age and Occupation: 24, Associate Editor/Reporter Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Reporter Engagement Date: September 23, 2008 Wedding Date: July 2009 Venue: Everal Barn, Westerville About Me: Organized, but messy. I love art (all kinds). I don't have any secrets. I talk a lot and listen even more. I show love by baking. I'm timid by nature, but brave when it counts. Mr. Bunny and I work at competing weekly newspapers, which makes it a little interesting trying to describe our work joys and frustrations without giving away too much before the paper comes out. In spite of that little hurdle, we've managed to build a pretty solid relationship in the short one-and-a-half years we will have been together when we tie the knot. I can't wait!
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