How to deal with (blog-derived) idea overload

Since I began reading and following blogs (just last fall!), I have been struggling with balancing my available project time with the ideas for projects I get by reading all the great blogs out there. I've posted previously about how I need to slow down and finish up old projects before I start on new ones. This led me to set a goal for this month to get all my current projects done before I let myself start any new ones.

Even though that was barely over a week ago, I am already finding myself (after reading some of my favorite blogs) coming up with new project ideas. This would be ok if I was just writing them in my garden/house idea & to-do book, but earlier today I found myself writing some of these new projects on my weekend to-do list, which I try to make most Friday's so that I know what I need and want to do over the weekend. Shoot! This can't happen - I really haven't made all that much progress on those old projects that I pledged to get done this month!

One thing I have noticed is that I tend to see a great idea, file it away in my head, and then weeks later when I have time (or put off current projects to make time... arg...) I can't remember where I saw the idea, and I end up wasting my free time just trying to re-find the blog post or site that I was inspired by. I realized that a great way to solve that is to bookmark any ideas or projects that I want to implement around my house - calling them things like 'bathroom storage ideas', or 'cupboard refinishing techniques' or whatever key phrase will help me remember what I wanted to do with them.

I think bookmarking great blog posts will really help me save time down the road, and it will also help when I am sitting down thinking about what I should do next. I also really hope that using bookmarks will let me keep my focus on my current projects, and not get all distracted planning new projects!

Tomorrow, I will finish the bathroom trim. I will!