A Civil World. Off-topic discussions on a variety of topics. > Time For a Coffee Break!

Losing track of time

(1/3) > >>

Scritzy:
Lately I seem to be getting overly engrossed in things (and not just this forum  ;D ). Working on the quilt is taking a great deal of concentration. Sometimes I will look at my watch and realize I've been working for two or three hours, and I'm shocked. Where did the time go?

As a consequence, I have been getting dinner late, forgetting to take Freddie outside, etc.

I tried putting a timer in the craft room the other evening. I had homemade bean soup simmering gently on the stove, and I wanted to make sure I quit working in time to prepare the side dish. But even before the timer went off, the soup simmered down to nothing and scorched! I hadn't even thought about stirring it! And man, did the house smell funky for hours afterwards, even though I lit candles to override the scent. (I also had to run around frantically to find something else to fix for dinner.)

I generally believe getting engrossed in work to the point of losing track of time is a good thing. It means I'm doing something that I love. It also means that after so long of flitting from one thing to another and never getting anything done, I seem to be able to concentrate again. But when I'm losing myself to the point that I'm neglecting something else, I don't know what to think.

Anyone else do this? Any advice?

I have to run and take the dog out now. At least I'm remembering that much. :)

goblue2539:
Can you set goals for your breaks instead of times?  Speaking from a cross-stitch standpoint, I find it helps if I make myself stop after this length of thread or this many rows.  That way I don't have to worry about watching a clock or listening for something, but I know that at a certain point I have something else I have to stop and do. 

It works here too, by the way.  "I'm only going to read 3 threads before I start on today's mailing list." ;)

Xanthia, Maker of fine Tin-foil hats since 2007:
GEEZZ mom, so that is where I inherited that from.  Ever forget eggs on the stove boiling because you were working on a cross stitch...it smells BAD when they start burning...REALLY BAD!!!

The funny thing is, a lot of time I have this strange internal clock where I get up and start walking toward the kitchen and get there before the timer goes off, but if I am working on something intricate, I completely forget.

My suggestion is to have your "daughter" some and visit and she can remind you to stir your beans while you teach her to quilt...

Just a thought...

SOCKS!!!

IndianInlaw:
faussonl is right about small children...and big ones too!

Setting a timer is a good idea.

I remember when I used to paint...getting engrossed was like flying.

Lisbeth:
Would a cuckoo clock or one that chimes on the hour or whatever setting you use work?

Sometimes watches have this feature too.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page