Rewind

I always used to kid myself into thinking I was a multitasker, when really I’m someone who darts from one unfinished project to the next because I either get bored or convince myself I’m not good enough.

A big part of the problem is how disorganised I can be. I rarely stop to make a plan – I just dive in headfirst and wing it.

It’s a bit like being a hamster on a wheel: expending a ton of energy, running in circles, but never reaching a destination because I never had one planned to start with.

With one of my Etsy shops, I’ve pivoted the niche a few times, only to end up selling vinyl decals, which was my original plan, but I was worried I’d get the personalisation wrong, or that people would find them difficult to apply, and put the blame on me selling them an inferior product – so far I’ve had no issues and only good, positive reviews 

I dipped a very reluctant toe into making YouTube videos, but held off expanding because I didn’t want it to become yet another “try it and quit it” project. 

So, I hit Pause, and then Rewind.

And I decided to take the time to actually build a system – something structured, organised, and sustainable. Not another spur-of-the-moment idea destined to get scrapped a few weeks later.

I’ve used OneNote on and off for years, but I’ve never fully utilised its potential. It’s got its limits, sure, but it’s free, and there’s usually a workaround for whatever it can’t do.

By pairing OneNote with my Affinity software suite, I started creating digital planner pages and templates to organise my videos. Now, each video has its own mini planner, all linked back to a main index. And as you can easily copy a master template, it saves me from rebuilding the same structure every time. 

Once that was in place, I began listing all the videos I wanted to make, which turned out to be a lot. That meant I needed a bigger, more practical setup.

Since I don’t have a lot of spare funds, I had to work with what I already owned. I also turned to my 3D printer to make most of the “fixtures and fittings” for a new camera rig, attached to units that also double as my main crafting stations.

Of course, that led me down another rabbit hole: designing a 3D-printed modular system with rails and slides so I can swap out accessories as needed.

It’s not finished yet, but it’s functional. I’ve already recorded one video, and have two companion ones waiting in the wings. The goal is to always stay a few weeks ahead, have enough content banked for when fatigue kicks in, and my body needs a break.

And yes, through all this, I’ve had the constant thought: Ooh, I could make a video about this too.

That’s when things start to feel overwhelming, but now, I just log the ideas in OneNote so I can plan what to film next, prioritise seasonal content, and juggle energy levels without losing the plot.

If I’m having a low-energy week, and/or one where my body needs to move as little as possible, I’ll work on digital or software-based videos. They’re a lot easier to film and still keep the momentum going.

This whole process has taken time, but none of it feels wasted.

Rewinding gave me the space to rebuild properly, to lay foundations that will actually hold up over time.

I don’t see what came before as failure. Every version of this project taught me something: what works, what doesn’t, and where I keep tripping up. Every day really is a school day, and I’ve finally learned that sometimes progress starts by pressing rewind.