{Originally published on Three by Sea}

This simple little sign hangs inside the armoire in my studio.  And by studio, I mean the dining room that I’ve taken over as my studio!  That same sentiment is also next to my computer and inside my notebook.  I read it somewhere a few months back and it resonated within me.  It reminded me that life is what you do, not what you plan. Sitting there pondering, and wondering, and thinking, and surfing the internet, and reading about things you would like to do is not the same as doing them.

Holly at Decor8 wrote a great blog post as part of her Creativity Series about “Analysis Paralysis”, whereby one is so overwhelmed with information that they are unable to make a decision.  It seems to be a common affliction among creative types.  Holly goes on to give advice for moving from inaction to action. The post is well worth reading.  Having gone through this myself, I thought I talk about the things that help keep me from getting side-tracked during my journey of starting a business from home.

My notebook-
This is my one catchall place for the ideas, designs, lists, questions, interests, concerns, etc. that are whirling through my brain night and day.  Just as freeing up memory on your computer allows it to run more efficiently, writing things down allows you to free up space in your mind and move on to other things rather than get slowed down by your thoughts.  Think of it as moving the data to an external hard drive!

I put the “one” above in bold because I used to have a notepad by the computer, a notebook for work, a little notebook in my bookbag, etc. My thoughts were as scattered as the places I wrote them down. No more. Now I use one notebook which I keep close at all times.  It can be as fancy or as utilitarian as you prefer.  I use Moleskine cahiers and jot notes on Post Its that I can then stick in my notebook wherever I want.  The only exception I make is my sketchbook for drawing and working on designs, due to the fact I like big surfaces when drawing or doodling.

My Daily 10-
The number of things you want to accomplish can feel overwhelming at times.  I had so many things that I not only needed to do, but wanted to do, and all while taking care of my number one priority, my 13-month-old son.  I felt like I was spinning my wheels and not getting anything accomplished.  Finally I made a list of things I wanted to get done and ended up with my Daily 10-

Putting it on paper made me realize how intertwined many of the things were.  Sewing, Printing and Blog are work-related, so they count as ‘needs.’ Drawing was a ‘want’, but I realized that it would help my work in Illustrator, which is also a work-related ‘need’.  Same with Photo Stuff.  I have so many photo files I need to tag and organize, as well as photos to take for listing stuff, posting to my blog, personal stuff, etc. I also want to improve my lighting skills, which will help business and personal picture taking.  Connect was a reminder to make sure I keep contact with others in the real world, as it’s very easy to become a hermit staying/working at home.  Exercise and Clean- not my favorite things, but still need regular attention. Read is for actual books, not computer stuff.  I have so many books waiting for my attention.

Ten items may seem daunting, but I decided I’d give each item 30 minutes of my attention each day.  It may not be a lot of time for some of them, but it serves a couple of purposes- 1) 30 minutes chunks make most anything seem feasible. 2) Short amounts of time still add up to progress vs. not doing it all.  I keep my list in the back of my notebook and I refer to it often.  It keeps me focused on my priorities (besides my son), and I’ll make a note in my notebook as I accomplish them each day.  I’d be lying if I said I went 10 for 10 each day. I probably average a 7 or 8 each day because I end up spending more than 30 minutes on something.  However, if I don’t get to something on the list today, I try to make it a priority for the next day, so that it doesn’t go ignored for an extended period.  And writing down what you accomplished serves as a reminder that you are getting things done, even on those days when it seems like you’re not!

Inspiration Online-
I highly recommend Leo Babauta’s blog, Zen Habits.  Time magazine named it one the Top 25 Blogs for 2009, and rightly so.  His posts cover: achieving goals, productivity, being organized, GTD, motivation, eliminating debt, saving, getting a flat stomach, eating healthy, simplifying, living frugal, parenting, happiness, and successfully implementing good habits. (list taken straight from his site).  It is one of my daily ‘must read’ blogs that motivates me to be a more productive and overall better person.

Twitter- I might be addicted to this social media site.  MySpace never thrilled me and Facebook is okay, but Twitter is where it’s at for networking with others quickly and easily.  I’ve come across some great people on this site- nice, funny, friendly, smart people. People who are starting or have their own businesses; are into design, art, or crafts; stay home with their kids; know a lot about marketing, social media and branding.  The collective knowledge of people on Twitter is stunning, and I love the instant communication aspect of Twitter.  To chat with and see what others are doing provides a lot of motivation, inspiration, and, some days, reassurance.

So take from this post those things you find helpful, and get going!  Unless you have suggestions for getting unstuck/moving forward with ideas, then I’d love for you to share!

Editors Pick by Amy from Doobleh-vay: Nic is awesome! She is a cool Etsy artist with an amazing blog that inspires me! I love her life by the ocean and her style! The original post and comments can be found here. Don’t forget to subscribe. You can also check her out on twitter!