Batch Working : How I use it to keep me sane

I am a creative person with a thousand ideas running through my mind at any given time. And it is really difficult for me to stay on top of everything. There is just too much to do. How do I manage to work on everything that I want to do? I am sharing my secret with you. It will definitely help you be more productive in your work.

If you have been following me you know I love to do a lot of things. I make quilts, I teach quilting, I teach online too, I also have a long arm machine in my studio and do a lot of long arming. I also mentor creative entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses. I blog, I am an influencer, I am a board member of an international organization and I also work on one of its task forces. Apart from all of this, I also am a wife to a wonderful husband and a mom to an energetic tween. I love every aspect of my life and aim to live it to the fullest. I not just want to do everything, but to enjoy it too.

How do I manage to do it? Firstly, I do not do it all! Neither do you have to. Realistically, you cannot do it all. So let us find the next best thing to do. Do as much as you can: one thing at a time.

The best way that works for me is to do my work in batches. I combine activities together and work on them at a time, be it at home or in my business.

I have set aside Tuesday afternoons for my “home” duties. This usually starts with making a meal plan. We cook each meal fresh (so no making in large batches and freezing meals for me). So that means planning for 3 meals every day. I already have a reference plan ready (an outline of sorts – like Monday breakfast is leftovers / eggs) I just spend 30 minutes finalizing the actual meals. Then I make a list of stuff I will need for the meals. I then go to my kitchen and check the items I already have on hand, crossing them off my list. Now what is left in the list is my shopping list! Armed with this list and another one of other stuff around the house that I need to buy, I head for a quick shopping trip to the market. Doing this on a Tuesday means I’m not distracted with Aadi being at home. I put away everything as soon as I reach home and my maid preps all the veggies for the week as per my schedule. I also schedule my weekly cleaning and organizing chores for the same evening. That way I only have to spend one evening a week taking care of the essential t hings at home. I am lucky to have maids to come and clean every day for me. That also leaves me with enough time every day to spend on my business and keeps my weekends free to enjoy with my boys!

In the business front too I work in batches. I do too many things in my business, making quilts, teaching quilting, creating online courses for quilters, long arm quilting, mentoring women entrepreneurs, creating courses for women entrepreneurs, writing my blog, supporting local rural quilt makers, making quilts for my own pleasure, participating in craft shows and exhibitions, public speaking, and so much more!!! And I take all of it seriously. 

I usually keep aside evenings and Tuesday mornings for my online work. It includes a different thing for every week of the month. The first Tuesday of each month is spent planning the month. I also keep an eye on the following month so that I have no surprises coming up. I take out my calendar and mark days that Aadi has holidays (I have a lot of interruptions when he is home) and then proceed to mark the "Focus" of the day on each day. That way I am aware every day what my focus for that week is. 

I teach quilting in my studio 2 days every week (only mornings). So Monday and Thursday mornings are blocked for my classes. The afternoons on those days are usually spent on creating stuff enough that my assistant Rukaiyya is busy for the week. 

I keep my Saturdays loose. I spend them as I want. If I have too much going on, I even use the day to just unwind and relax. Or if I know I have a busy week ahead, I use the day to work either in the studio or in my home office. This gives me wriggle room every week. That way I do not feel tied up. I also make sure that I spend the afternoon cuddling with my son on Saturdays so that both of us can stay up late when we go out for dinner in the evening. 

Some key points I take care to remember when I am working in batches :

1. Look at the month as a whole. Also keep an eye on the following month.
2. Do not focus on just one area. I also use a yearly calendar to mark the months I travel to teach. That way I know what is coming up next.
3. Combine similar activities together. I combine working on projects for Rukaiyya to finish with my quilting classes days because the time is not enough to concentrate on my huge quilt, but not so less that I can just ignore it. 
4. Make sure you get some fresh air - EVERY DAY
5. Plan with consideration to timelines. Be aware of your deadline. That way you know how much time you should be spending on something.
6. Say NO to things that you cannot accommodate. You will easily find me refusing opportunities to speak on weekends. Unless it is a very important event to me or it is one of my quilting workshops, I don't usually take up any engagements on weekends (especially Sundays)
7. Delegate. Find someone who can do your tasks and let them do it. I know it is hard. They might not do it your way, but they will get it done. And given enough time they will do it 'almost' like you did. I always hand bound my quilts. I was so sure that no one else will be able to do it like me that I never bothered teaching anyone else. Btu once I taught Rukaiyya she has been doing a flawless job

Most important thing : Enjoy what you do! The most important things is to enjoy what you are actually doing! There is no point in beating yourself up over not doing something properly when you do not love it in the first place!!!

Do you also use batch working to increase your productivity? If yes, how do you do it? Any ideas that will smooth out my wrinkles? If you haven't tried it before would you like to give it a go? Or is what you are doing working for you already? I'd love to know!

What you will (and will not) need for QuiltCon!

As I am getting ready to board my flight (an excruciating 26 hour long journey - not counting the 10 hours that I have to drive to reach the airport) to take me to the other side of the world to spend one of my favorite weeks, I decided to put together an "essentials" list for all of those who are travelling (near or far) for QuiltCon.

What is Modern Quilt Guild?

The Modern Quilt Guild is made up of over 150 guilds across the country and world. Their mission is to support and encourage the growth and development of modern quilting through art, education, and community.

The MQG developed out of the thriving online community of modern quilters and their desire to start meeting in person. The founding guild was formed in Los Angeles in October of 2009. Through blogs and the Internet, word spread quickly of the fun they were having and soon guilds started popping up everywhere.

What is QuiltCon?

QuiltCon is an international modern quilt show featuring over 550 quilts, over 100 vendors, and dozens of workshops and lectures over four days. QuiltCon 2020 takes place in Austin, Texas from February 20-23, 2020.

If you ask me, QuiltCon is the place where I can travel across the globe and still feel at home! It is a wonderful event, brilliantly organized by an organization that I am proud to me a member of. I have attended QuiltCon in 2015, 2017 and 2019 and was totally floored with the atmosphere there! It was an experience that I'm sure I will cherish for a lifetime. 

So what will you need for QuiltCon?

Your preparation will begin right when registrations open. Here are the things you should get done right at that time.

Registration: You will need to do a lot of planning when it comes to registering for QuiltCon. Firstly, you will need to book the lectures and classes that you love. For this you will have to make a list of those that you want to take according to your preferences. Then be ready at the moment when sign-ups begin. The best classes are sold out in minutes! So be sure to act fast. Check your internet connection the day before to be safe. Keep your payment information handy. And when its time, sign up!

QuiltCon Tip #1: Decide your order of preference when it comes to classes and the moment the registration opens, register ONLY FOR THAT ONE and finish the process. Then go back and modify your registration to add others. That way you will get at least one of your favorite workshops.

Accomodation: You will also need to look for hotel accommodation. The best way is to share rooms with your quilting friends.  In 2015 and 2017, we booked our hotels in June, and believe me, we did not have a lot of options left. So, as soon as the QuiltCon dates and all other info is up on their website, I suggest you look at the most desirable hotel and book it. While booking the hotel, make sure it is as near as possible from the venue. you do not want to end up having to travel a lot to and from the venue everyday. There are usually a lot of options for hotels. You can also try AirBnB or Couch surfing or if you have friends in the city, you can just crash on their couches.

Transport: Book your transport. For me it means booking a flight ticket. But for you it could be anything. You might be driving to the venue. Make sure to make all the travel arrangements.

Volunteer: Sign up to volunteer at the show if you can. It is a wonderful way to be a part of the show and it is really fun!!! Plus if you are a super volunteer, you get a goodie bag free (It is totally worth it)

About a month before your trip:

Get the household ready: If you live alone - just skip this part. Get your household ready for your trip! If your SO is not familiar with the kids schedule, get them on board. Keep talking about how BIG an OPPORTUNITY this is and how it MEANS A LOT for your quilting career (or hobby or passion or love).

Make financial arrangements: You will have a lot of temptations at QuiltCon. So be ready with a budget and train yourself to some SUPER self control. (Try working / volunteering in a quilt shop and NOT BUYING a single piece of fabric for a week). Make a list of things you want to buy and then set a suitable budget. 

QuiltCon tip # 2: If you are a super volunteer or you sign up for more than $350 worth of classes, you get an awesome goody bag! 

Plan your itinerary: To pack your bags, you will first need to make your itinerary. Make a day-by-day list of your plans. For the Quiltcon 2015 trip, I used one index card for each day and marked hourly intervals on it. I had my classes and lectures marked into it so that I knew where I would (or rather should) be every moment of the day. After 3 QuiltCons, I no longer plan hourly, but I do have a dedicated double page in my Bullet Journal for the 6 days (Day before to day after QuiltCon) where I put in any important appointments I do have for that day. That way I do not miss out on anything. I also click a picture of the page and keep it on my phone for quick reference. 

QuiltCon tip #3: Download the QuiltCon App as soon as it is available. You will not only have all your registrations in one place, but will also have a map of the venue to help you find where you have to go quicker.

Plan your outfits: Once you have your itinerary, you will be able to plan all your outfits for the trip. I make a detailed plan in Excel. I make columns for 

Date - Event - Category - Top - Bottom - Other - Footwear - Accessories

The date, event and category columns are the ones filled first. In the category column I usually just write Indian Casuals/Indian Formals/Western Casuals - Cold  Weather/Western Casuals - Warm Weather/Western Formals. That way I can later just put in the other details and have a packing list ready. Once  my list is final, I write it down in my bullet journal.

Make a detailed packing list: And by detailed I mean, absolutely detailed. This is the part which I enjoy the most! I am a chronic list maker! And my recent obsession with bullet journaling has given me an opportunity to actually make a list of the lists I would love to make! You already have a list of your outfits. Add a few for reserve and your clothes category is complete. Next make a list of all the supplies you will need for your classes. Then make a list of all your skin care, makeup and hair care stuff . Next comes the miscellaneous list - this is the list which has your luggage and all other items you will need to carry - your travel documents, snacks, water, electronics, books, notebooks, pens, medicines and anything else you specifically need. 

Check your documents: Make sure you have all the necessary documents to travel and they are all valid. Check BOTH your visa and your passport. Also check if you will need a visa for your layover. A quick visit to the website of that country's visa office will let you know. Click pictures of all your important documents and email them to yourself. That way even if you loose them and your phone, you will always have the details with you.

Get business cards: It is the best way to connect with other quilters. Get your business cards done if you haven't got the mdone already. 

A week before you leave:

Start Packing: You have your list ready, now its time to start packing. I just get my clothes from my list ready - washed and ironed - and put them in my guest room as and when I remember. I wash my clothes even when they are clean so I can check them for stains or tears. This is also a good time to get stuff that needs professional help or special attention, cleaned. Dry cleaning, shoe cleaning etc.I pack all my clothes  and other stuff into the packing cubes over the week. But I do not put them into my suitcase yet.

I also keep all the luggage I am taking in the guest room. So that I can visually see it together and know how much room I have.

I also start bringing other stuff that is  not used and  putting it there. I use a lot of pouches to separate categories. It helps me find my stuff easily. I do not, usually, put anything directly into the suitcase.

QuiltCon tip#4: Pack a second set of your daily makeup for touch-up in your purse/bag that you intend to carry to the convention center. You will be spending a lot of time there. And if you use makeup, you might need a touch-up. That way you will not have to remember to carry your makeup with you everyday.

Get your prescriptions: If you are taking any prescription medicines, make sure you have enough to last the entire trip. I also make sure that I carry the prescription with me (and of course a photo on my phone) for all the medicines that I have.

Get currency: If you are travelling abroad, get your currency converted or your travel card loaded. Inform your bank that you are travelling so that they do not think that your card is being misused and block it. Make sure your debit card or credit card has not expired.

Two days before you leave:

Pack suitcases: Now it is the time to play Tetris. All those packing cubes and pouches now go into the suitcases. I weigh each pouch and cube and write its weight on a post-it and stick on it. So when I have to pack my two 23 kg suitcases the job just gets easier.

QuiltCon tip#6: Even if you think you do not need the complete luggage allowance, bring along the two suitcases you're allowed (Maybe one inside the other like I did in the first picture above - the brown suitcase has a carry-on size suitcase inside) You will need all that space inside to bring back all the stuff you pick up there!!!

Charge your power bank: Make sure your power bank is fully charged.

Check your list: Make sure you have packed everything on your list and put all your packing cubes inside your luggage. This is where having all my luggage and my packing items  in the guest room helps. A quick glance around the room tell me if I have left anything behind.

One day before you leave:

Take rest: You are going to have a hectic few days ahead of you so take some rest on this day. Do absolutely nothing.

On the day you leave :

Check your documents: Make sure you are carrying your documents and your money - both card and cash. If you are travelling abroad, make sure you do not carry only foreign currency. You will need some money on your way to and back from the airport.

Charge your electronics: Make sure all your electronics are fully charged. If you do not have duplicate cables, remember to pack your charging cables. 

When you reach the destination (In this case Austin):

Check-in and unpack: I used to find it very silly that people unpacked in hotels and would prefer to live out of my suitcase on my trips. But on my last trip, just because I was alone in the room, I decided to unpack my clothes  and realized that just hanging them reduces wrinkles! And remember the tip I gave you about not packing your cubes according to type but according to day, it comes in handy here. Just unpack a couple of days worth of cubes at a time so that you do not end up hogging all the closet space if you are sharing room with others.

Wear comfortable attire: Walking shoes are the best to wear to QuiltCon. Or any shoes that will not hurt your feet at the end of the day after walking about 5 km (3 miles). Dress in layers, because the exhibition hall that is cold at the start of the day can get warmer as more and more people come. 

Register at the first possible moment: The line for registrations gets long, like suuuuuper loooong, in the evening so register as early as possible. Make sure that you do this the first thing when you go out of your hotel. Just doing this will save you about 50-60 minutes!

QuiltCon tip #5: If you have a quilt in the show or if it your first QuiltCon look out for some wonderful ribbons for your registration card. I loved flaunting my "Board Member" and "Faculty" ribbons at the 2019 QuiltCon

Attend the award show: A lot of people avoid attending the award show unless they have a quilt in the show that could probably be a winner. But the sheer energy in the room and the eye candy of all the wonderful award winning quilts is simply so inspiring. Also, you get to see the winners first hand and can connect with them about their quilts that you like.

Start the day well: We need to do this all the time, but it is especially true during QuiltCon. Start your day with a large healthy protein-rich breakfast. It is going to be a long day and you will be on your feet most of the time. You need all the energy that you can get.

Use the bag check facility: MQG provides Coat and  bag check facility at Quiltcon. Make full use of it. Carry large bags for your shopping and check them in as they fill while you enjoy the show or attend workshops. It is a lot more tiring to lug around a heavy bag. The fee is totally worth it.

QuiltCon tip # 6: Sometimes booth owners have fabulous deals on the last day. Watch out for these deals to save money. 

Start a conversation with a stranger: When I was alone at my first QuiltCon, often the thing that would cheer me up was a complete stranger starting a conversation with me over a quilt or a class! Since then I have made it a point to connect with complete strangers at QuiltCon. You never know when you might make a friend!

QuiltCon tip # 7: Do not overbook yourself. For the first QuiltCon I had signed up for 19 lectures and 2 workshops in 4 days! Not only was I always running around, but I was also super tired a lot of the time. 

Take lots of pictures: Don't forget to take a lot of pictures, and not just of quilts. You want the wonderful moments to never end. Having them in the form of pictures lets you remember and enjoy them again and again.

QuiltCon tip # 8: When you click pictures of quilts to post on social media, include a picture of the info card that is hanging right next to the quilt. That way it is easier to give credit to the maker.

Enjoy the show: QuiltCon is one on the most fabulous shows that features modern quilts. This once a year show is the go-to for anything modern. There are awesome special exhibits that you should definitely spend time seeing.

I hope my post will help you plan for your best QuiltCon experience. Have you attended QuiltCon? What are your tips for those who want to attend the show?

My bullet journal

I have been talking about my goal setting and planning for the new year part in the last two posts. In keeping with the topic, I would like to share something today that I have never shared on my blog before. My bullet journal.

I discovered bullet journal in 2016. At that time I had discovered and fell in love with Chronodex. Though it was visually more appealing, drawing the chronodex itself every day was a task. I found myself using it less and less when I was busy. So the whole point of using a journal to organize my life was lost.

But I ended up with a beautifully documented 6-7 months!

Around this time, Pinterest took me on the Bullet Journal Train and sure I did enjoy my ride!!! I loved the freedom it offered. And over the months the appearance has sure chaanged. I feel it has transitioned along with my own growth as a person. Somewhere in these years I crossed over the big 4-0 and I feel I have become a much mature person today.

The early days were bright and colorful, sometimes chaotic. BTW, I never stuck to the Dukan diet. It was too much work to cook separate meals for myself.

This was the time when I launched my old website. This page documents all the preparations I did for that.

I also played around with some layouts and styles. Some looked pretty but really did not have any space for any specific planning.

By 2019, my journal had started becoming more and more minimalist! But The entire March 2018-February 2019 phase was so busy that I barely used my journal except for writing what needed attention/was planned that day.

But I did splurge my journal with attention on special occasions. And I love making random lists in it.

At this moment, I am using a combination of a journal with a weekly layout and a notepad with a daily list. The journal has a monthly view for each month where all major events are marked. I add other things as needed.

Then comes the weekly view. Every week is marked and then details are filled.

Along with this weekly layout in my journal, I use a list for every day. This list has been inspired by Palula Rizzo's The Power of Lists. When I read the book, I liked the concept and it has been working really well for me. 

 Apart from these, I also have a gratitude journal that I write in every day (just 3  things I am grateful for) and a financial journal (that tracks my income and expenses everyday). I also have a private journal that I write into when I feel like. Aadi's studies has a separate journal where we keep track of what we are working on and what we have to work on. That is his training for using a journal for himself. He loves my colourful journals and hopes to some day have one for himself too. I would love it if he has one.

One of the most important thing I realized as I went through my old journals for this post is the memories they document. So many things come back to me when I look at a page - and not all of it is written in it! Sometimes its juts one line drawn or just a small star somewhere o nthe page.

Work / business goals for 2020

In my last post I spoke about how I plan my new year and shared my personal goals for the year. In this post I'm going to share the 10 business / work goals that I have set for myself.

I have decided to make some changes to my work structure / business. And my reason for doing that is a personal one.My son Aadi is in the 8th Grade now. And here in India, !0th and  12th grade  are board exams. These both exams followed by entrance exams for various graduation courses are important milestones. Though I do not personally believe in judging a student based on their ability to score, I have to accept that if he wants to pursue education that he desires and deserves, he needs to get a good score.
Though he s a model student and loves to study, he still likes having me by his side when he studies. I have decided to be there more for the next 4 years. I want to be there to motivate him and inspire him.
So one of the important decisions I took was not to go to the USA for my annual QuiltCon trip. Since the school year starts in June, I will still be going on the February 2020 trip, but it will be my last one for a while and the next one will be in 2025. I might squeeze one in April-May 2022 if opportunities do come my way. I am also cutting down on my local travelling. Opting to spending more time at home rather than outside town.
The main problem with this decision is that 90% of my income currently comes from taking classes and cutting down on traveling means that I will have to compensate that income by doing something else. Once I knew my focus, it was easier to plan around it. I also decided to start two new streams of incomes that will help me achieve my goals.
So here are my goals for 2020

1. Train the teacher. Create the ABOUT face Certification Program for teachers. Train certified teachers to teach the reverse applique workshop that I currently teach. Its my goal to have at least 10 teachers who are teaching the technique all over the world.
2. Art Quilts. Make a series  of Art Quilts in smaller size (about A4-ish). I am thinking of making 3 of these every month with a single theme. 
3. Modern Quilts. Make 4 modern quilts with an intention to enter into QuiltCon. I haven't entered quilts in QuiltCon for a while now and would love to enter some next year.
4. Give back. I want to be a  mentor to 5 Indian quilters for whom quilting plays a major role in their lives. This is my way of giving back to the generous quilting community for helping me when I started out 10 years back!
5. Pattern writing. Write patterns for magazines. For 2020, I want to write at least 6 patterns  and send them to magazines for publishing.
6. YouTube/ Podcast. I'm not sure which one I want to do, but I want to start either a YouTube Channel or a Podcast about quilting. 
7. Online classes. Start conducting more online classes. I already started that off by announcing the last batch of the ABOUT face class on Facebook yesterday and the response has been amazing. I will be doing more online classes  this  year.
8. Get that Room. Get that Room is my dream as an architect. It is a lifestyle blog dedicated to helping people create their dream spaces at home. We will be giving links to source the perfect furniture and decor items online (currently restricted only to India) so that people can create their favourite space in their homes. The blog also has affiliate links. 
9. Save money. I have set a target of saving Rs 300,000 this year. This will actually end up being invested and not spent - either on the business, family or leisure.
10. Further education. Though I am well known name in the quilting industry, I sometimes feel I am not qualified for it. I would like to study formally (if that is possible) or maybe do some research in this field to make myself 'official'. In 2020, I'm just going to zero in on what I am going to do. 

That's it. Those are my business / work goals for 2020. Do you also have goals for your work for the new year? Do share them with me, I'd love to see them.