I’ve received seven rock commissions in the past few days, which is so exciting! I’m not even advertising, people are just reaching out! I can use this money to buy more rocks and supplies muahahaahah.
Here’s the problem. I’m anxious AF. See here.
Only two of these orders have had a deadline (one tomorrow and one on June 7). Everyone else is TOTALLY chill and all “get it to me whenever!”
But my stupid brain doesn’t work that way. It’s like “work on this now and get it out of your mind!”
That’s the thing. It’s in my mind until it’s complete. Sigh.
So I’ve been working on some of them right away. Which is fine, I have time, it just sets unrealistic turnaround expectations. (I’m like this at work too.)
Ugh. Help me chill! How can I calm my brain?!
Not a commission rock!
Ugh, the old anxiety brain rears its ugly head! What has been useful to me lately has been thinking about some of the things my brain does with anxiety as bad habits that need breaking (see the work of Jud Brewer on this – he has a book out and is on many podcasts right now, talking about it)…and one of the biggest points is first of all, acceptance. This is what your brain has learned to do over many years. And then, taking a step back from your anxious brain and just realizing that you don’t have to do anything with what it is telling you – you are fundamentally ok and safe without completing those rocks, and you can let the anxious brain do its thing without giving into it. The idea is, by accepting the anxiety and letting it run its course, and not reinforcing it by giving into it, it should gradually peter out. Kind of like seeing it as a toddler having a tantrum in you mind! I hope this helps a little bit – I know what you are going through and it sucks! Hang in there!
Ooo I like that Amy, thank you for sharing! What was your fave podcast you heard Jud on? I’d like to listen. I need to try this and see if it does peter out. I think it could work with practice!
Hi Kim! I listened to him on the Rich Roll and Ten Percent Happier podcasts – but if you search Jud Brewer in your podcast app, there are a lot of different episodes that come up on different podcasts. Good luck!!!
Thank you! I have listened to Rich Roll before, he’s good!
Maybe set “due” dates yourself for each commission as they come in? Make them realistically achievable, and put them on your calendar. I think part of the busy brain syndrome comes with the unknown. You fixate on not forgetting and not procrastinating, and then you can’t stop thinking about it. Just my opinion, for what it’s worth.
That is a very good idea – I very much struggle with the unknown but if I plan out when I will have them done and block out time that will help me and I know I won’t forget. Thanks for sharing your opinion – your brain either operates similarly to mine or you’re a great therapist! <3
Ohhh, yes. I completely understand this. It’s so much different when you have people counting on you. Even if they don’t give you a hard-line due date, you still want to give them their rocks in a timely manner! That’s just the good person in you!
I really like Odie’s suggestion of giving yourself a due date that feels realistic. Like you said, it’s probably the unknown that’s making you flail like this and get super anxious. But if you know you have until, like, mid-June to get it done, that will hopefully help. And maybe even breaking it down into each part of the process and giving yourself a due date? Like “5 days after the commission, I will sketch out the drawing” and then so on… maybe you work on it all at once so this won’t help, but my brain must break EVERYTHING down in smaller chunks or else I will go crazy haha.
Thanks, I do NOT want to make them wait! I hate waiting! Ha!
I think I am going to start doing what you two suggest. I think sketching it right away will make me feel good that I worked on it, and I can show them the sketch, then put time in my calendar to paint, seal, and varnish. If I am at least started on it (have the sketch going and rocks picked out) I hopefully won’t feel as panicky?!
I got two more commissions this weekend!
I can see how deadlines around this hobby are stressful – so maybe just take them on, when you feel like you can handle the deadline?
That is definitely what I need to do! And so far I can, I just want to do them all NOW, even though people give me time. LOL.