General Forum

So I'm getting frustrated and overwhelmed.  I start something then jump to something else then realize I forgot to do this other thing then I get aggravated and just go watch TV. So i need some opinions on prioritizing the many tasks I feel i want to accomplish.  What's more important to you guys? 

1.  Entering my PC into the database? It's almost 200K.

2. Entering the cards I've picked up just to trade with? I feel like the more I have on there the more I will have partners.

3. Scanning the hundreds of cards I have with no pictures?  Feel like I need to be doing my part for this awesome website.

4. Listing all the crap I have piled up to go in my E-bay store.

5. Keeping my wantlists and players I chase lists updated? 

6. Organizing my card room into somewhere I can actually work in peace? 

7. Deciding to finally give up on the Card Collector dream. That program just made my life so much easier. 

8. Proposing trades again?  I've slowed on this and only respond to the ones I get. 

I almost want to take a week of STAYCATION and just lock myself in my card room. 

I would prioritize #6.  Seems that would make all the others go a lot more smoothly. 

If your goal is complete your collections, then trading is a priority.  And you must have up-to-date Trade and Want lists to accomplish trades. 

I like to vary the tasks a little

so I would work one one area for a couple days, decide on a stopping point, then work on another task for a day or two, then on to something else..  then back to beginning

that approach works for me in my collection..

mark

I agree with all who've posted before me. I would add to set up a schedule if you must to keep you on track to do a few things to vary what you do. Doing all those things is pretty much what I do daily, and it must be varied or else I'll go crazy. I used to use my Google calendar for that but then it reminded me too much of my job (I retired this past June), so I now just spend a little time here and there, but with an eye toward enjoying what I'm doing.

I think most of us have been frustrated with the hobby at some time - mine has led to me work on organization because that's truly what's frustrated me more than anything.

As far as scans, I get to them in a couple of ways. I trade a lot and when I'm pulling the cards and see that they need a scan, I scan it and put it with the stack I'm sending off. That way I have it ready to upload once I get a chance. So I may have a good 5-10 any given day to do. After awhile those get done.

I would go with #6. Even if it means posting on your profile that you are taking a break from trading until further notice. A well organized card room should make everything else better.

Llike everyone else #6 is on the top. Then 

#5  Try to keep want list updated all the time with the ones you really want

Scaning is helpful for all of us.  If you want to do it a day here and there I would go for it.

#1  Do a little at a time.  It will take time for that many cards

#2  Appears you have a good number of cards  listed for sale/trade and wants so you should get trades 

You set what you want and you can change it at any time.  I give up it up and go with the flow nowdays.

Take a deep breath and exhail  Life keeps going and the cards will wait until you are ready.

I am counter to everyone else by the looks of things. I love the mess I live in. I have everything going at once. Why?  So when scanning gets boring as sin I can switch to this or that. I sort some days, catalog, working on things all over hell. LOL I can not keep doing one thing until it is done, why you ask? Because I HAVE TO every day at work. Sometimes it is nice to just to do whatever the heck I want. Start and not finish, its ok there is always tomorrow, next week, month, etc.

6, and 6 a second time to make sure it is right, then 1, 2, then 5.  I've posted on the importance of the physical collection needing to be organized before anythign else in the threads before.

7 just sounds like a matter of making the decision you have already made FINAL! 3 is nice but organization is more important and would then allow doing 3 less frustrating as you would know where the card is.  4 sounds like it doesn't belong on TCDB - do that when you need a break from organizing. 

8 - I get enough trade proposals (some I decline because there is greed everywhere) without having to send some out.  If they slow down, then I might try to propose a trade to get a card I really want.  Of course many of those are ignored for weeks (months) (and by members who are on here every day).  So when bored, I propose a trade just to see how long it may sit there being ignored. The last one I proposed that still sits there was from Feb 5.  I had one that went about 6 months before I finally withdrew it.

Seriously though, getting organized and getting everything listed (collection, traders and want lists) is the key to enjoying this site and hobby.  After all, how do you know what you want if you don't know what you have.  And as a friend here did, he traded a card out of his collection because he thought he had 2. He ended up having to go find another. Once it is organized and entered, upkeeping it is key to continued enjoyment. Take an evening and come up with a plan of attack before you do anything else.  You can modify your plan as you get things done.

Yeah, I like #6 too, why not? I've been doing for it for 2 years now. Bruno made that stick in my mind and it does help, big time! However, I also prefer to multitask on just about everything you mentioned, keeps everything in perspective.  Each day I walk into my rooms, Let's see what should I do 1st? What catches my interest that day.....but I do set a time limit, if working gets tiresome or boring...I stop and return later.