Learning how to do (almost) one thing at a time

Apparently it’s not ‘normal’ to have as many plates spinning as I typically do. Whether it’s an overactive creative mind, a too ambitious to-do list, or maybe even mild ADHD as someone once suggested, I’ve only ever done things all at once. And a lot of the time it works for me.

To the outside eye it might look chaotic or unplanned, but juggling multiple jobs and circling back around them in tighter and tighter circles until each one is complete is how I do life. It’s also essential in my job as a stylist and set designer where I am always juggling a list of tasks and people. On shoots, multitasking is the only way. Also, in parenthood if you can’t juggle at least 900 jobs at once you are doomed.

A month ago I set myself the pretty hefty task of refinishing the outside of my house by the end of the month. I would’ve loved to hire someone to do it for me but for now those days are in the past. I couldn’t install new bathrooms myself, or steel beams or plaster a vaulted ceiling - for that I paid someone - but painting I can do and it saved me a huge chunk just when I needed to.

But I knew I couldn’t have it drag out through the summer as my house is now part of my business - shoots, workshops etc - as I’ve mentioned before, so this bungalow needs to start paying for itself asap!

Long story short, I met my target, going over by only a day. There are minor touch ups to do, but from a distance the house glow-up is complete. 98% if I’m honest and that last 2% is scheduled for next week, whether permitting.

This photo gives me so much joy and satisfaction. The window paint is Junebug in Valspar’s exterior wood and metal paint and I highly recommend it for it’s coverage. The white is Sandtex Microseal masonry paint in Brilliant White. Full resources and how-to’s to follow in another post.

I can’t say I wasn’t constantly thinking of other jobs I wanted to do, but the act of committing to - key word here - finish the job by x date kept me in check. I know this is obvious - deadlines help, yes we know, thanks genius - but even a deadline can’t always hold me back from veering off on a tangent.

What was different this time? Fear and sadness. Ha ha I know, so dramatic. What did you think I’d say? You should know by now, this is me, barer of my soul to mostly strangers who read my work. But seriously when life gets you down, focus on a project! I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to crawl back into bed halfway through the day and pretend life was easy, but not once did I do that. I pulled on my ridiculously painty jeans and I climbed that ladder.

Maybe you’ve had those times? When you know no-one is going to save you but you? You are the only one to fix this problem. I liken it to childbirth in some ways. I remember being in labour with both my kids, saying to my (now ex) husband “I can’t do it!” The pain was too great (hard-head over here was young and idealistic and refused pain killers) and I didn’t know how I could get them out.

“I can’t do it!”

And he kept saying, “but you ARE doing it!” You’re literally doing it now!

It’s like that right now. There is no fairy godmother/rich husband/trust fund. Just meeeee. And I am doing it even if it’s painful and difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Just keep doing what you’re doing

I whisper to myself all day long.

And as hard as that is to accept when it isn’t clear what lies ahead, it’s also what keeps me going.

Because of it being April ( sorry I mean, because of it being any month of the year in the UK), it was a bit stop/start due to rain, so I did actually have a few other projects on the go - finalising the design for my first interiors product (very, very excited/scared no-one will like it, because what kind of creative would I be if I wasn’t riddled with self-doubt?). Plus writing. Plus helping my son buy props for his university degree show plus helping my daughter not worry about being between jobs etc. Just life.

I’m not saying that I’m now a convert to the concept of only one thing at a time moving forward, but…I do see its benefits. The interesting thing was it allowed me lots of headspace to think about other projects I want to work on - podcast, potential new clients and shoots, more products, creative meet-ups at my house. And I made sure to tap them quickly into my notes app because I know myself well enough that if I don’t write it down, it may as well not have existed as an idea in my brain. But I didn’t stop what I was doing and change gears to any of those projects.

At the ripe old age of 48 I have learned the benefit of one thing at a time. I’m not sure I agree that slow and steady wins the race, but it certainly allowed me to finish the race instead of burning out or getting distracted by something new and sparkly on route and losing my way. One complete job might actually be better than 27 jobs done to 75% completion. Revelation!

Something else I’ve been actively trying to do is stop and appreciate achievements before moving on to the next thing. I’ve already noticed myself doing it with this latest project, rushing to get the next thing done. But I’ve been forcing myself to stop every time I come up the garden path and take a moment to appreciate the lovely fresh house. A month ago I thought about this moment but knew the only way to get there was to do the work - a slightly bitter pill to swallow.

It’s tempting to immediately start thinking about having to paint the inside of the windows next, but I’m trying to appreciate the win that is the outside of the house being done!

I know people who are very good at congratulating themselves and it can sound obnoxious (note: saying well done to yourself out loud in front of other people is unnecessary and immature. What do you want, a medal for making a nice dinner? ;))

But allowing yourself to be in the moment and acknowledge one’s achievements is vital, otherwise what’s it all for? I’ve recently started to re-read Ekhart Tolle’s The Power of Now which I first read more than 20 years ago. He speaks a lot about this. We live so much in our heads with constant - and often repetitive - thoughts that we often miss the present moment, life itself as its happening. Right now it is a constant battle - me against the thoughts in my head - but focusing on my mammoth task really did help.

Are you a born multitasker or do you like to tick all the boxes before you move on?