Terri Thompson

I’m an idea consumer. I’m constantly searching Pinterest, Facebook and Instragram for ideas. I like, I save, I pin day after day. It’s a hazard of being a blogger, I guess. I’m searching for ideas to share. But, then I start to lose myself in the search. Can you relate?

Now, there’s nothing inherently wrong with being an idea consumer. Nothing. But, the thing is, that’s not what I am. That’s not even my favorite activity. I am a creator.

I love to make things. Sometimes it’s in the kitchen, sometimes at my sewing machines, sometimes around the table with the kids, and sometimes on my laptop. I’m a cook, a crafter, a writer. I’m a maker.

But, somewhere along the way the consumer side takes over. Then next thing I know, I’ve accumulated hundreds of ideas and I’ve accomplished none of them. I start feeling lopsided and out-of-sorts. I feel like I get nothing done. I get in a funk.

That funk stinks.

That funk only happens when I neglect that side of me that needs to create.

That funk needs to go away.

How do you get out of that funk?

Limit your time online. I’m online a lot. It’s a necessary part of being a blogger. Promotion and idea consumption is part of the game, but I can find it taking over my  day. When it takes over, I try to limit myself to be online only the time that is absolutely necessary. No more mindless browsing until I’m out of the funk. If being online is not necessary for you, walk away for awhile or limit yourself to only being online at a specific time of day.

Set a goal. Are you a maker like I am? If you are, set a simple goal to create something specific. I recently set a goal to sew a skirt for my daughter. We went shopping for fabric and I set a deadline. It’s much easier for me to take the time to create when I have something specific to do. Telling myself to just go create something never works because I get lost in all of those ideas again. Are you a baker? Pick out a new recipe to master. Are you a gardener? Make a garden plan and go for it. Get specific with yourself.

Set another goal. Yes, another. Doing just one thing doesn’t usually do the trick for me. It’s still so easy to fall right back into that funk. I need to channel that energy I found and pour it right back into something else. This time make your goal a little bigger. Commit to doing 3 projects you’ve saved on Pinterest. Try one new recipe each week for a month. Take on a big knitting project and make that afghan you’ve had your eye on.  Commit to doing more of what makes you happy.

Take things one day at a time. Habits change slowly. And, really, that’s what we’re trying to do here. Change from being a consumer to a creator. I don’t know how you work, but if I don’t take things one day at a time, I give up because everything seems to hard. Take small, achievable steps. It makes a difference.

Don’t get discouraged. Give yourself some grace. Not a single one of us is perfect, so stop demanding perfection of yourself.

Pretty soon, you’ll have yourself out of your funk.

That’s my recipe for getting out of my consumer mode. I need to get out of it and do more of what I love.

When I’m doing what I love I’m a better person. I’m happier and more creative. It benefits me in everything I do.

When I’m in a funk, every part of me gets in that funk. Everything becomes 10 times harder than it should be, even cooking dinner for the family. I hate being in that funk.

So, are you with me? Let’s limit our idea consumption and start creating instead!

(Or reading, running, gardening, hiking… whatever you love to do but aren’t doing enough of.)