Project UFO: Tips for Sorting Through Your Unfinished Objects

There is nothing like that fresh, magical energy of the New Year - it feels like there is a clean slate in front of us, and I don't know about you, but I certainly feel inspired to refresh my systems and reorganize myself.

In the Sashiko Stitch Club, we are taking advantage of that New Year Energy and starting Project UFO - a month-long challenge to get our unfinished objects sorted and under control. We've had great success with this project in the past, and we thought our other readers could benefit from the tips that we share in the program.

After all, what better time to reflect on the things we've started, where our creative energies have been focused, and what we want to bring forward in our practice? Our unfinished objects can take not only physical space, but emotional, too. So if one of your resolutions is to feel better by getting your craft area and works in progress properly organized, please enjoy these steps and tips to help guide you through your very own Project UFO!

Week One: Taking Inventory

Especially for those of us who dabble in more than one medium, our projects can end up kind of all over the place. To get a really good idea of what we're working with, I find it helpful to round up all of my UFOs and WIPs, and put them all together in one spot. I tend to gather them on the big table in my studio, but anywhere that you have space to spread them out and see everything will work.

Once you have your projects gathered together, it's a good time to reflect on how you are feeling, focusing on awareness and not judgement. Are there projects here that are making you feel excited? Overwhelmed? A little bored? Consider journaling through these feelings.

Next, I find it helpful to make a simple list with three columns: what the item is, when it needs to be finished by, and what the priority level of the project is. Don't worry about listing them in any particular order at this point - the main thing is getting them out of your head and onto paper, and we can rearrange them later.

Week Two: Categorizing and Prioritizing

Now that we have a better idea of what our UFOs actually are, we can start prioritizing. There are a number of ways you may choose to categorize your projects - personally, I like to evaluate first if I have an obligation to finish the project, and second, how excited I am by the project. Based on these two factors, I can decide what needs doing and in what order, and what can be let go.

Some other factors that you could use to sort your projects might be by...

• Due date
• Difficulty
• Type of craft
• How close to completion it is

Of course, you can choose any metrics that are meaningful to you for this stage. The idea here is to look at our projects without judgement on ourselves, paying attention to the way the projects make us feel. Combining this information with concrete factors like due dates can help us come up with a plan to actually get things done.

Week Three: Decluttering (Responsibly)

With a clearer vision of the projects that are sparking joy and the ones that are bringing us more negative feelings, we can start to clean up our space and move that negative energy out. Looking at your categories from week two, are there any projects that you don't have an obligation to finish and are bringing you negative emotions? These projects are good candidates for decluttering.

That said, we don't want to clear our spaces at the expense of the environment. Rather than tossing projects, consider...

• Passing them along to crafty friends
• Reclaiming the materials for another project
• Donating to a local organization or thrift store (it doesn't hurt to call ahead and make sure they accept this type of donation) 
  • If donating, be sure to package neatly. We don't want to leave a big mess for the volunteer at the donation centre!
• Online marketplaces and "Buy Nothing" groups

There are lots of ways to clear your space whilst benefitting others!

Week Four: Taking Action

It's time to take another look at our projects that we are going to finish and make a plan for getting them done. I like to do this by further sorting into two categories: projects I know how to finish, and projects without a clear end point.

I begin by looking at the projects I know how to finish. Because these projects have a clear end goal, I can check to see if I have all of the materials I need to finish them, and plan time into my calendar for finishing. I like to work on a project that needs to get done for a while, and then reward myself with a project that I enjoy for a while.

Now, what you should be looking at are the projects that don't have a clear end point, and the materials in your stash that are not dedicated to other projects. Touch things, put different materials and textures next to your projects, and see if anything here sparks inspiration. If so, create a plan to work on that project. If not, consider packing up the project and setting a reminder for yourself to come back to it in a few weeks.

Wrapping Up

The last few days of the month are well spent in reflection. Too often we move from task to task without celebrating our wins, so let's be sure to take a moment to acknowledge what a big thing we've done this month! Even if you didn't finish your projects, if you got some clarity, that's a win.

At this point in the challenge, I like to journal about what I've learned about myself - if the projects I neglect have anything in common, if there are habits I want to bring forward to my next projects, if new ideas have struck me during this process. 

Interested in making a Mindful Sashiko-Inspired Journal Cover? Get the course here!

Then, I like to take a big deep breath and enjoy this new space I created. Project UFO always feels like a reset, a shifting of energy, and that is such a perfect feeling for January. I hope you can enjoy it, too!

And if you'd like to join us inside the Sashiko Stitch Club for our next Project UFO, you can join the waitlist here!