REALLY Starting Construction Drawings

Making myself sit down to draw the build drawings is... tough.

All my most creative procrastination happens when my board is waiting for me to dimension things.  Of course, the world conspires to help with that too: it's always tax time or guests coming or laundry to wash or grout to scrub with an old toothbrush or the spring garden to work in, out in that pretty sunshine...

Chores never look so fascinating or so vitally-important-duty-must-do-at-once! as when there's a heap o' dull drawing to be done.

Public domain image - SPRING!

Mind you, construction drawings are not completely dull - there's still plenty to figure out - but after the fun of schematic design, drafting has less charm.  Though I know from experience that once I do sit down to it, I'll get interested.

But it's getting myself to sit down to it.

I really ought to check on the garden...

Time Management versus Procrastination

Stomping out other project's fires, email, dishes, other deadlines, procrastination, phone calls, chores, and just plan ol' foot-dragging (perhaps because of those crispy fire-stompin' feet?) have been BIG problems in this studio lately.

Do you ever have this problem?

There's an important, long-term project that you want - you need! - to be working on... and yet... somehow... you neeeever do.

Well, I've listened to all the excuses I can stand.

So I'm experimenting with time-management.  The new deal is: breakfast, then turn on the dreaded treadmill and tread it while reading yesterday's notes and completed pages.  1/2 hour of concentrated attention on the project.  No distractions.  Then straight from the dreaded treadmill to the computer keyboard to write for 1 hour.  NO INTERNET.  No excuses.  Until the timer buzzes.

Then I can fritter my life away at email or whatever other time-gobbling, brain-rotting activity I choose.  Well, that and deal with the business of the day and those deadlines.  But for 1 1/2 hours it's just thinking, then doing, On The Project.

This seems to be working.

It's easier than expected to concentrate on the dreaded treadmill.   (Though hard to write notes!)  

It's not much time, but I can see movement.  Knowing myself, once I get into the project I'll  start stealing extra time to devote to it and then...

Real Progress!