“I’ll do that when I have time” – 10 days acting on an overused declaration

“I’ll do that when I have time”

10 days of projects and creativity

Well, now I have time, with bittersweet thanks to coronavirus.

As I am the kind of person who needs a framework and a plan to effectively be a do-er rather than a think-about-er, this is how I intend to fill 10 of the next 23 days (no intended meaning to the 23), doing some of the activities, projects and improvements that I have previously got no further than merely thinking about.

I have written a list of the first ten things that came to mind as projects or activities I have wanted to try (or at least understand better) over recent weeks, months and, embarrassingly, years. As ten came so quickly to mind, I have carried on, but, for fear of reaching an overachievement peak too early on, I’m going to stick with ten, maybe have a break from uncharacteristically high productivity levels, then carry on in smaller blocks.

Is there a plan? I actually do have a plan and I know, albeit with much trepidation, that it is entirely realistic.

What is the plan?

There needs to be a timescale.

Between and including Thursday 26 March 2020 and Friday 17 April 2020, 12 non-weekend days. (But ok to extend if any paid work materialises)

There needs to be a set of basic rules.

1) In no particular order, list ten things you want to do that you previously thought you had no time to do but which can realistically be achieved in one day. All to be done without spending additional money (eg I already have stamps so postage, while an expense, is not something I need to pay again).

2) After completion (or inability to complete, assuming suitable effort were made to complete successfully), on the same day, write and post a blog, including photographic evidence of the completed challenge and, at the end, a photograph of my pinboard with the next challenge.

The first list of ten, in no particular order:

1. Listen to a podcast.  Understand if it is just an audio recording or whether there is more to it than that.  Record a podcast.  Edit a podcast.  Complete, but not publish, a podcast.  A feeling-like-a-dinosaur day.

2. Record a video (content insignificant).  Find a way to edit it.  Learn how to speed it up.  Learn how to write notes across the video.  A learn-to-love-imperfect-results day.

3. Home pedicure and manicure.  Put something refreshing over my eyes and let nail polish dry by lying down and relaxing for far longer than necessary.  Maybe listen to a podcast while resting (assuming #1 already done).  A relaxing day.

4. Follow instructions in (a particular) book on how to make a very funky scrapbook page using paints and glue.  A messy day.

5. Make fresh pasta ravioli and a ragu filling.  A beauty-is-not-everything day.

6. Get sewing machine out.  Repair it if possible.  Make or mend something with sewing machine.  A stressful, sweary day.

7. Using Photoshop, learn how to give photos a film slide border and how to “cut” features out of photos to have as a stand-alone photo (that possibly only makes sense to me).  A high-risk-of-excessive-swearing day.

8. Read a selection of magazines I have piled around home and write a newsy blog post of my favourite bits of information.  A lazy day.

9. Learn how to make exciting Instagram stories and how to be more creative with Instagram.  A fun day.

10. Write and post letters or cards to my mum and my friends.  A dinosaur-connecting-with-friends day.