December Daily 2010 | Finding Time, Making Time, Trading Time


AE December Daily 2009

QUESTION FROM DEBORAH | I have been following along each day with your preparations for this year's December Daily. I am so excited to begin even though I haven't had a spare moment to throw my album together yet. And that, is what concerns me. I know that you are super busy, that all your fellow December Daily doers are super busy. But, this project is important, and it really isn't a matter of finding time -- because that extra 25th hour just doesn't exist. I think it really is about trading time -- doing December Daily pages instead of doing...? And so, I was wondering if you'd consider asking your readers what they find themselves giving up/letting go of/setting aside in order to have the time to take part in this project. It would be so helpful to get some perspective about how other maxed-out moms reorganize their priorities during this time of year. I've already cut down on the workouts, set up the Tivo, closed-off all non-essential bathrooms, dug out the slow cooker…I am in need of some ideas to gain some scrapping time.

AE | I'm looking forward to reading the suggestions and thoughts in the comments today. In the past I've done a variety of different things - worked on my pages in the evening, in the morning and in the afternoon - whenever I could find/make/trade time. Sometimes I put my page together as soon as I come across the story I want to tell - such as something that happens at breakfast. I snap a couple photos, upload, print, add journaling, and get it in my book as soon as I have a chance. Some years I've been more artsy so it's taken longer. This year, I'm really going for simple. In all the years I've done this project I almost always focus on telling just one story per day - I don't attempt to document everything minute by minute for this project. I pick one, tell it with words + photo(s) and stick it down. Then I go about life until I choose a story on the following day.

I'd love to read your thoughts on this today. What do you find yourself giving up/letting go of/setting aside in order to take part in this project?

Related Posts

Sign in or sign up to comment.

155 thoughts

  1. Amy B says…
    11/29/2010

    Last year was my first year and I am so excited to begin this years! I have 5 kids, and a very busy life! That being said, I give myself a lot of freedom with this project. No pressure. I make sure to journal and take photos every day, but I don't pressure myself to get my album done by the end of December. Last years album took me until Oct to finish! But I am OK with that! As long as I have the stories recorded and the photos taken, I find that I enjoy spreading out the process and picking away at the layouts as I get time. I definatly want to keep it fun and non-stressful! Can't wait to start!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. J Allen says…
    11/29/2010

    You are on the right track with Tivo, that's a must. But Ali can I say, don't give up your workout. Don't even shorten it, when I slow down on my workout the two d's come creeping in...depression and despair. Don't want to sound like a know-it-all, but your body should only be second to your soul.
    I have decided I can put the album together after Christmas day. I have the book ready, I have all my elements in a box ready to be used. I will be adding my Christmas bits to the box. I will take my pictures, and each night I will journal about the day.
    After Christmas I will print my pictures and journaling. I will then put everything into the waiting book. Even if this goes into Jauary that wil be okay. I did the same thing with my Halloween book. I still don't have a full size Halloween lo, but everyone has enjoyed the book. With a seven month old to take care of I do what I can. After all, I'm the one that puts all the pressure on me. Oh, and only clean the parts of the house that everyone will see!!!!!lol

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. linda says…
    11/29/2010

    I agree that it's all about tradeoffs and priorities. We all have the same 24 hours in a day, so it's just a matter of choosing how you want to spend your time. I definitely don't watch TV much or hang around when it comes to errands. I get certain things done quickly, so I can move on to the fun stuff...

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Carla says…
    11/29/2010

    I plan to, plan. I am going to try to stay organized. Our December calendar is already full, just with school activities and sports. No parties, no down time by the looks of things. So I am going to try to stay on top of it and not sweat the small stuff. "My" time usually kicks in around 8pm, when the kids are in bed and hubby is comfy on the couch. I will record my favorite "can't live without" shows, other than that I will give up TV.

    I also just read a great article over at Simplemom.net Essentially, cooking for a week and eating for a month. By doubling up on what you cook and having a meal ready for later in the month of December. I will be doing that for sure!

    Here's the link: http://simplemom.net/3-weeks-till-christmas-menu-plan-batch-cook-for-december/.

    I think its brilliant and will sure help out!

    I must confess, I am getting a little nervous, or maybe it's excitement!

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. anne says…
    11/29/2010

    Last year, if I had days that were super-busy or a few days stretch of time that we were out of town, here is what I did. I wrote a little bit each day on index cards about what we did or what I wanted to remember, and then I slid the index cards in between the pages of my album. Once I printed my photos, I added them in as well. Then once or twice a week, I would sit down and work on "making" the pages. Having the photos and journaling ideas ready really took the pressure off. If I managed to get up earlier than everyone or have a little time before bed, I would use that time to work on the album. I have learned that I can't force creativity, and I have to be in the mood as well as having the time to really enjoy the process.

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Kelley says…
    11/29/2010

    Like so many others, I gave up alot of TV last year (my first year to make a Dec. Daily). I'm lucky enough to have a small 4x6 photo printer, so I printed my pictures daily, and completed each day's page that same day. I'm also lucky enough to have a small craft desk in our home office, to start a page, and come & go with it through the night- so some days I would start on it as soon as I got home from work (in that 30 minutes that everyone in the family goes about their own way before it is time to start homework & dinner), sometimes continuing if my husband was making dinner that night. But most of the time I worked on the page after the kids went to bed. The pages in the beginning took longer for me as I found my groove, and the weekend pages were usually longer spreads, since we accomplished more & I had more to document. Like others, I haven't put my album together yet- hope to work on it tonight/tomorrow, my goal is to have it done when December starts on Wednesday...but if that doesn't happen, I'll just go with the flow and put it together as I start to document. Since last year was my first time, I've also learned what I'll try to do differently- simple versus loads of embellishments/decorating...this is about documenting my family and our life for one month- I'm so looking forward to the process & end result.

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. hlp says…
    11/29/2010

    My mother had many holiday traditions, and as a young mom, I continued them without much thought. Although I love cookies, I hate working with flour and really dreaded baking cookies. When I let go of the expectation that baking was essential to the holiday, it freed up time and energy! What holiday tradition is high effort for you? Maybe you can replace that one with DD.

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Susan Anderson says…
    11/29/2010

    I keep a small notebook in my purse which I use to jot down the stories, our a thought so I can journal it later. I am also doing my digitally. My pages are all ready to go, minus the photos and writing. I'm having them printed by Persnickety (they added the 6x8 size!) and will send them off each Saturday. I'll have them on Monday ready to go into my DD. The most important thing I do is to not stress over it. Even with the best laid plans, life happens. I don't want to get so caught up in the doing that I forget to enjoy the moments I'm capturing.

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. TracyBzz says…
    11/29/2010

    I haven't done December Daily but I have done LayOut A Day 5 times and a daily September album! Some days are a real challenge or you're just tired but keeping up is so important. If you can't manage one page a day how are you going to catch up and do 2 or 3 pages in a day?

    There are always time waster - tv (good timing as now all the shows I watch are re-running until Feb sweeps), talking on phone are the 2 big wasters. Ask your family to help out either with collecting things or stories for you album or by getting them to help with the housework so you have a bit more free time to create.

    All I can say is once you emerge triumphant it's awesome to complete such an album.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Michelle M says…
    11/29/2010

    The old adage is we always find time for the things we make a priority. I've found it to be true in my life, and that it is an ever-changing balance as I shift into different stages and demands. However, I consistently see that which is important to my family or myself, I find, or in many cases--make, the time to do.

    I have a ten year old son who loves to play with Legos. I have two tables pushed together at the ends and on some evenings when homework is done and dinner is over, we'll go together to "play". He builds his Legos and I work on my DD. Often, we talk about different things that are on his mind, listen to music and just hang out. He takes great joy in showing me what he is creating, and I hope, by my example, that he'll remember that even as an adult, it is important to create and build.

    The biggest deterrent I have found is in myself...in that I let other things creep in and take away the time I can or have set apart. There is always laundry, cleaning, errands, work and the demands of everyday life. It nevers stop for anyone. I decided up front this year that I would make doing a DD a priority and guard any pre-selected time preciously (I scheduled time in advance--not a lot but some), knowing that the commitment is short-term and reward will be high for my family and I. I've been weeding out the non-necessities, and trying to make the best use of any down time...I love the book that Ali recommended: the Gift of Imperfection. The author has some great advice of truly doing what you find relaxing and inspiring purposefully instead of just surfing the web when you have a spare moment...as I've been known to do. Sometimes all I can give my DD is 5 minutes, and that is okay!

    Lots of great tips and I love the idea of doing this with my sisters. I think I may make them up a basic template and give them for birthday gifts in the coming year...thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Sue TR says…
    11/29/2010

    *sigh* boy did this post come at a great time! This is my first DD and I'm totally psyched...I've got everything gathered and some things cut out but the "bones" are not done am having a CRISIS over the numbers for each page....at 12:20am this morning I contemplated working on it but went to bed instead....

    I am going to set aside time in the afternoon before I pick the kids up from school (we'll see how that goes) and after 10pm (when everyone is in bed) to work on this and other projects. I am menu planning / cooking large batches and going to stay off the computer as much as possible to clear time for working on this and some other projects! Am going to have everyone choose one thing that they want to do this season and make sure that gets done...everything else will slide...we have a new puppy so the kitchen floor is dirty as soon as I wash it anyway :-)

    Love seeing everyone's comments!!!

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. Susan Usry says…
      11/29/2010

      one thing I did differently this year (3rd time doing DD) was NOT numbering the pages ahead of time - I felt like this might give me more flexibility - I dropped a scrap of paper in each protector that reminded me what I was thinking and if I had any embel that were intended for a page, I included them, but when I built the album, I kept it strictly bone-simple so I could move pages around if needed to fit what actually happened each day!( my pages are not all the same size, shape, etc.) Just an idea...

    2. Sue TR says…
      11/29/2010

      Hey Susan
      Thanks for the tip! Am working on the "title" pages now and might do just that!!

  12. Debbie C says…
    11/29/2010

    For me this is all about my frame of mind. Some words and a couple of photos each day. Not a holiday season layout and documenting everything that happens for 25 days in a row - it stresses me out just typing that:)

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Jennifer says…
    11/29/2010

    This is my first time doing a December album - and I've been focused from the beginning on making it doable for my lifestyle.

    1. I'm not being a mamarazzi/hoverbot w/ my big camera - iPhone pics are just fine too!

    2. I'm not focused on the "daily" aspect at all - but instead dividing my album into themed sections and filling it as the inspiration strikes.

    I've also taken this an opportunity to play with my supplies - to see what I can come up with if I indulge myself with patterned paper, pens and ink. With that playful spirit in my heart and mind, I am looking forward to working inside the book, to mess it up and make it real.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      11/29/2010

      mamarazzi totally cracked me up

  14. jill e. says…
    11/29/2010

    we had a house fire a few weeks ago and i lost every christmas decoration i had. at first i really was stuck on that, but then i realized that i need to be thankful for what we have left and that we are all safe. i considered not doing december daily, since i won't be decorating my home and things will not be traditional for us this year, but then i realized that's exactly why i need to do it this year! i will be squeezing it in using a handful of the supplies that i have left and spoiling myself with fun new supplies too!

    Reply 6 Replies
    1. Becky H says…
      11/29/2010

      Jill- I think you are correct in the fact that you need to do you DD this year. Due to the fire (which I am so sorry to hear about) you are going to be forced to possible make new traditions given the circustances and I think it will end up being a great book to reflect back on. Good Luck!

    2. Kim Brown says…
      11/29/2010

      Yep. THis is the year to do one if there ever was one. It will be very nontraditional and your emotions will be more raw. Gratitude will be more prevalent and you will look back on this book more than others.....I'm guessing. Remember that year we had a fire and we lost all our decorations......

    3. Sarah says…
      11/29/2010

      I'm so sorry! I agree that you need to do it this year. It is a different year and one that no one will soon forget. Capture that in a truly unique album and you will be grateful for it later.

      Thank God you are all safe. Praying for you and your family as you adjust!

      Sarah

    4. jill e. says…
      11/29/2010

      thanks ladies! our daughter arrived the week of the fire too, so we have extra to be grateful for and i know that she will love to see that documentation someday too.

    5. Ali says…
      11/29/2010

      Just wanted to jump in and tell you how sorry I was to read this Jill - happy that everyone is ok and that you have a beautiful new daughter.

    6. jill e. says…
      11/29/2010

      thanks ali! really puts everything in perspective for us, we are truly blessed!

  15. Stephani G says…
    11/29/2010

    As a mother of four (6 & 2 year old girls and 9 month old twin boys) to say life is busy is an understatement. I work full time, but am thankfully off on maternity leave until March.

    I recently stopped breastfeeding and in doing so made a decision to not sit in front of the TV unless doing something. Thus, my "found time"...not really traded time which will allow me to hopefully complete my December Daily.

    Those out there with 4 (and more!) kids can attest...there is never me time, unless you make it. There is always something or someone to pick up, clean, cook, tend to, love, kiss, and hug. Never mind the laundry! In my life, I never have the opportunity to say, "ah, the house is clean, my chores are done...". Doesn't exist with 4 kids under the age of 6. It is all about damage control for me. Long as the kids are loved first, everything else will fall into place.

    My days will find me jumping around throwing a load of laundry in, picking some stuff up, tidying this and that and I have only recently been able to be ok with that. After all, as long as everyone has been fed, I've bathed recently and have clean underwear, the rest will just "be".

    I used to be an obsessive scrapbooker, recording everything in my first daughter's life...second one still obsessive, just not quite as much. These babies? I had not done anything creative, never mind for myself until very recently. Thanks to your inspiration to preserve stories and suggesting its ok to just record the stories, and not worry about catching up or creating in chronological order, I have gotten my inspiration back.

    Recently, I heard a suggestion to not make time for TV. It can be easy to get lost in a show at any time of the day. For the past month now, I will not sit down and watch TV. I make a point, in the evening, when my hubby and I are finally sitting down, to grab what I can on the coffee table and plug away. Hubby can still unwind and watch some TV himself, but I am doing something for me. It`s even made us actually find more time to talk instead of just be in the same room with one another.

    Loving seeing everyone`s ideas...lots of inspiration - good luck everyone!

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. imafarmgirl says…
    11/29/2010

    This being my first year I appreciate all the comments and Ali's words- one story a day. I will focus on that. Thanks everyone!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Jessica Woodford says…
    11/29/2010

    2 years ago I started the album. Never completed the album itself (so no journaling/pics, etc). Last year I made two albums, one for me and one for my sister. About half the album has journaling. Just need to print and put photos in it. This year, my album is complete and I made it SUPER simple! (Minimized the embellishments to begin with helped a TON!). With my 3 children being a little older, I'm thinking that I will have one of them write a little about they day in THEIR perspective. I think it might add another element to the album so it's not all in my point of view. I think I will even ask my husband to write a few notes down during a weekend day.

    I also purchased a HP Photosmart printer (I think it's the same as Ali's actually) and I LOVE the quality of prints it prints out (and I'm a photographer!) So it will be a little easier to print at home. Also I'll being using my Fuji Instax cameras (I have both sizes) and think that will be a fun element in our December Daily album too.

    My motto this year is: simple & stress-free.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      11/29/2010

      I want to "like" your comment Jessica :).

  18. K'Lynne says…
    11/29/2010

    My favorite way to 'steal' scrapping time is to use the timer, like an above poster said. I usually spend 50 minutes doing chores and when the timer goes off - I spend 10 minutes scrapping. When the timer goes off after ten, I go back to my chores. It is during this time that I steal. I am still thinking and creating in my head while I tackle the mundane. After my chore time is done, I am ready to scrap and know what I want to do. No lost time waffling or 'should I do this or that' - I did that while I was cleaning. After a few hours, the house is caught up and scrapping is accomplished. I can even adapt this during meal prep - once food enters the oven, I might even have 30-40 minutes!

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Rebekah Pontow says…
    11/29/2010

    First things first - I'm not going to read all the comments and waist all that time sitting at my computer! Some great ideas though and all have a common theme - make it a priority. DVR the tv shows, catch up after Christmas, use the slow cooker, have help with the house work, let some of the housework go once and awhile, play catch up on the weekends, and block out a set time each night. These are all great ways to make this album fun and make sure it gets done.

    I plan on doing most of those things, and I also agree that it's imporant to NOT check out on your workouts. I am in my 12 months now of weight lose and it's so much a part of my life, so don't let that go. Workout at home instead of driving to the gym one night or do a morning workout instead of an evening - whatever is going to give you some extra minutes. I also write all my jounraling in the evening before bed and blocked out the events I knew were going to be occuring ahead of time. Now I'm using post-its to schedule in more events, so that I don't forget to take pictures and write notes.

    I also really like the idea of getting a premade album to get you started! Good luck!

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. abbeyviolet says…
    11/29/2010

    There are some great ideas here. Mine was not as much completed daily. I did commit to daily blog entries so the journaling was there and uploaded the associated pictures. I did not do all the assembly each day as I can't really print at home. Instead, I would batch print one day a week (weekend usually) and then do the assembly I had time for that day. If I didn't get to it, it was OK as I had everything on my blog ready to roll when I had the time. I, admittedly, didn't finish my 2009 version until the end of January in a marathon session with my mom, but you know what? It worked fine for me. If you don't blog then maybe committing to the journaling somewhere each day and to figuring out which story you're assigning to that day. If you have two more minutes. Tag the photos you want to use so you're ready to print. You can make it work for you and make it work for the way you work. I am, as you can tell, a believer in this project. Hugs!

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Tracey Caudle says…
    11/29/2010

    I make a schedule and do my best to stick to it. I always pencil in some "me time". I can spend that doing a number of things, but it usually involves being in my craft/scrap room. I figure if I already have my album prepped, which I am almost there, just need to add a few more transparent pages, it would only take me about 30 minutes or so to print off my pictures and write my journaling for a particular day. I can always go back later to add any "extras" to my pages, like embellishments and such. This is my first time actually doing the December Daily, so we will see how it goes once the 1st gets here!

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. cinback says…
    11/29/2010

    This is the third year I am participating in the DD project. There are 3 things that I do to keep it manageable. First, I do not watch TV. I find that TV sucks up a lot of time in the evening if you let it, and I would rather be creating! Secondly, I did not get down on myself if I could not scrap each day on the day. For example, if we were out for a Christmas party and I did not get to work on my album that evening, I would not let myself stress over it, but continue on with the current day and catch up on the 'missed day' when I had a chance. There were always moments later in the week when I could catch up. Having said that, my third tip is to keep a balance (this one is hard for me) between scrapping and living the moments! I love scrapping so much that I tend to hide away in my craft room instead of spending that precious time with my family playing games or baking or skating! Don't get me wrong, I do participate in these events, but I have also recognized that if I don't make the effort to do something memorable, I will just hide out in my craft room! This year I am going to be intentional and happy with what does get accomplished.

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Becky H says…
    11/29/2010

    I am a SAHM and I would think I have all the time in the world but I get trapped in the "Well I do that tomorrow" frame of mind. With my DD I take the pictures and have a lined post-it note on the day in my album. I jot doen as I go and print pictures when I can. I am like alot of the commenters that I don't stress to be finished by the first of the year. I still have pictures to add to last years DD because I just go them from my mom at Thanksgiving. I also find it enjoyable to scrap Christmas anytime of the year. It just makes me smile to look at my DD.

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Krista says…
    11/29/2010

    I let go of scrapbooking anything else. As a young woman without children my scrapbooking time stays the same but other scrapbooking projects take the back burner. I tend to develop my photos in a bunch and then sit down on a Friday or Saturyay evening and put together a number of days all at once. If I need to I journal during the day in my notebook I keep in my purse.

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Maureen says…
    11/29/2010

    I'm retired so you think I'd have all the time in the world, which I really do, but blog reading and project dreaming have to get cut back. TV is not part of my life though Netflix is! This year is going to be quite simple with the colored pages cut and the overlays being printed after I use them as a base for a digital photo and story. One photo, one story. Ok maybe some days a couple of small photos and printed at home. I often find I have to make the decision to do rather than think about a project like this. Just do it. Simply and easily.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Johanna says…
      11/29/2010

      This really resonates with me. I am 28, working as a designer from home and a total thinker, too, and can get really lost in thoughts and plans and ideas for personal projects without committing to actually making them happen. Last year, I took photos, collected stories in a journal and bits and pieces in an envelope, but never sat down to make the album. This year, instead of thinking (hah!) I should finish 2009 first (it's still haunting me), I hope to assemble a simple album with mixed materials I have collected in a big bag and just journal in there & make adding photos an effort. I hope I can pull it off!

Sign in or sign up to comment.