2012 - The Plan

Well, well - here we are another year closer to retirement....:)

I know, I say this every year but it sure feels as if the years swish by faster and faster each year. I think it must be one of the joys of getting older, all of a sudden time becomes more precious to you which in return makes it appear to go quicker (mind, if you WANT the time to pass quick, it still doesn't do it, no matter how old).

Source: http://thypolarlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/time-slipping.jpg

But I digress, as usual.

For 2012, I have made some plans for myself top improve my quality of life. Yeah, I know - it sounds dramatic but it isn't really. I am just putting the FOCUS back to what is really important and enjoyable to me.

Speaking of FOCUS - you will have noticed on this post that FOCUS is my word for 2012, my mantra to get back on track with just about everything.

First of, after having dropped the ball with regard to healthy living and exercise, I am back in the saddle as of today. I am starting power walking/light jogging again and banned the naughty foods and drinks from my cupboard.

As previously, once a month I allow myself a day to go off the rails and eat/drink whatever I like and how much I like. It worked wonders for me in 2009 and will work again in 2012, if I remember to FOCUS on the outcome.

The main and most important change will come into effect at the end of April, as this is when my last two DT terms end. There will be no more paper crafting for the forseeable future for me as I am spent, done and finished.

To be honest, I have been working on DT's non-stop since I started my paper crafting adventure way back in 2005 and over the last couple of months I have struggled badly to enjoy the process of creating. It's not fun anymore for me, I just go with the motions because I do not want to let the companies down.

Don't get me wrong - I love working with the products I have received but I get so tired and deflated when I have to take pictures along the way to document a process for my blog posts. It just hinders my spontaneity as I have to think beforehand what I want to create in order to get the step by step done. I am girl that prefers to just go where the glue and glitter takes me - my best projects are the ones where I had no idea what the end result was going to be, I just surrounded myself with papers and started cutting, distressing, then deciding that I rather wanted to use inks and discarded what I previously did.

When you do step-by-steps you can't work that way - you have to know already what you want to create in order to provide a good  tutorial.

Then there is the online presence you have to have these days even more so than previously. I am happy to post on my blog but I am tired of Facebook, Twitter, Forum and other social networks that you have to be active in. 

Over the last year, my hobby has taken over and ruled my social and private life and I started to get really upset and frustrated about it. When I used to be happy to create greeting cards these days we go and buy them because I have run out of ideas...

Currently my week schedule looks like this:
Monday to Friday - leave at 06:45hrs for work, return at 19:15hrs
!9:30 - 20:00 hrs - eat, watch telly and talk a bit with Mr P
rest of the evening - be online to check emails, facebook activities, forums etc

Saturdays and Sundays - prepare monthly assignments. Take photo's of completion process, photos of finished projects. Edit photos
Start write ups for blog posts, be active on social media

There is little time for my private life and I am now focussing to take my old life back. I already got rid of my mobile phone and my Pinterest and Twitter account and I cannot wait for the day when I can delete myself of message boards and Facebook.

Will I stop completely with the paper crafting? Probably in the first few months come April I am not going to even take a step into my craft room but I am certain that eventually, I will start to scrap again - but just for me.
For the moment I will keep my blog going as well but not as frequent as it was. Maybe once or twice a month, if there is something I feel I want to talk about.

I really look forward to spend more time with Mr P, no more working our few days out based on my crafting schedule - it will be fun and I we will enjoy spending more time together.

Here's to 2012 and my FOCUS to bring the fun back into my life!