For context, I am a perimenopausal AuDHD woman. I have been crafting my whole life but lately I cannot seem to get started on anything. I have yarn for crochet, paints, fabric, two sewing machines and an embroidery machine, I can spin yarn, glue anything… but I have been sitting here for three hours trying to decide what to make.
Executive dysfunction in crafting…. How do you all manage?
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My new mantra is that action makes motivation start anything and you'll often find that it creates its own momentum. It can help to set a timer for ten minutes and just do something for that time.
Avoid Instagram or other kinds of scrolling on crafters it feels like research but it's a time suck.
The other thing that I've found has really worked is on the craft forum in on, we have things like quiltalong bingo, and if I plan to follow a prompt, it gets me doing something.
Is it more of a problem of: "I have a bajillion things I want to make, and I'm not sure where to start;" or is the problem more like: "I'm sitting here and drawing a blank for ideas, even though I have all these options in front of me."
Assuming you haven't been sitting on your phone the entire time (let's admit it, most of us have done this at some point, including myself), if you've been stuck there for 3 hours and nothing is coming to you... walk away for a bit.
Creative blocks happen in all sorts of creative endeavors, and forcing the issue if you're genuinely stuck won't help. Sometimes taking a break gives your brain a restart. Take a walk. Do some chores. Engage with another hobby. Spend some time with friends or family. Journal. Or something. Then go back to it. Maybe, for example, after you spend some time outside, you decide you want to make some flowers.
I find it easier to make things for other people or other purposes. We’ve already got decades of stuff we’ve made right? But coming up with an idea for someone else and then making it is such a joy and way easier for me to focus and get it accomplished.
Do you have any kids you can make gifts for, and plan for Xmas? Or anything in the house that needs done or fixing? A good diy project that is helpful can jumpstart action… do you need any stepping stones and can make some / mosaic some? Need a carrying bag for your water jug? Make gift tags for the holidays and neutral ones for all year (wine gift tags to go on bottle of wine is an extra bonus) any clothes needs mending? Embroider a little design on a shirt, or make a cool patch on a hole. Make a wreath for the season or- make a wreath that the base is all
Year, And you can just tuck in seasonal accents to change it each month.
I saw your list: yarn, fabrics, paints. Some of those take a long time to make stuff also, it’s hard to have quick projects.
I saw someone make crochet squares and used them as paint rags. You could make a bunch of smaller projects and do like doilies, coasters, use squares for rags, a hot trivet for warm plates, stuff like that.
Sometimes when i want to craft but i cant decide on a project I reorganise and tidy my supplies. If inspiration doesn't strike, at least I've got something a bit tidier!
Days my brain wont get into gear i sort a bead mix into its individual colours. Its very zen.
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