Work Smarter. Not Harder.

I've learned something about myself over the last few weeks when it comes to working.

I often make things harder for myself. More frustrating and complicated. It stems from wanting to do a perfect job - every time. And wanting it to be done now.

I've always been this way (with school work particularly) so really it shouldn't have come as a surprise when I was getting just *SO* frustrated at myself and feeling hypercritical.

But this morning as I worked out an idea and began testing it to see if it'd make a viable product (it will, it's cute, can't wait to show it off!) I realized if I just slooooow down, take my time, I will save myself so my hassle and grief.

Work smarter. Not Harder. Yes one of those annoying Instagrammy platitudes that's probably hash tagged on some bohunks workout pics but you know, there's something to it.

One of the biggest frustrations with stamping by hand is the effort it goes in to getting your stamps in order. It just seems so faffy and time consuming. I was often going all willy nilly and haphazardly, picking up stamps and then setting them down in a different spot thus making it that much harder when I needed it again. Even using my ice cube storage tray was not 100% working as I have SO MANY STAMPS.

So dumb! And so silly. I'm not sure why I've been doing this as it creates a messy workspace which leads to messy work.

I'm taking it slow. This is not a race. I want to produce quality. I want someone to see something of mine and think "That's cute, I'd love to have it in my home."

I am planning on more ice cube trays to hold the stamps upright as I still think this is the best way for storage and space, using a cork board and taking the time lay out every stamp I'm going to use makes a lot of sense.

They are all in order, on a non grip service and I am taking the time to put them back where they belong. It's amazing what this simple step has done for me.

A top tip as well when stamping - go slow, check hands and fingers for any ink smudges as there is nothing worse than completing a project, looking down and seeing a tiny dot of black that shouldn't be there. I am now wiping my hands with a baby wipe in between and any time I see smudges. Baby wipes are handy, cheap, take the ink off immediately and your hands will dry quickly (or you can use my method - dry on your trousers!).