When things plateau

Hey Admin Bear, this is common to all things. The important thing is to keep interested and not force it or it becomes work, not a pleasurable past time. When I hit a plateau, I either simplify (do simple things like just adding material but no mounting or placing in albums, maybe getting rid of a topic where interest is lost) or diversify (split a country collection into a mini topical collection etc.) The diversify is also where my website (well the /stamps) part and my blog came from. Time was limited so working the collection so I started writing about parts/sets of my collection.

Alyn

I think we all go through this from time to time. I know that I haven't really done much in the last couple of months. I think about it often, but like Alyn said above, if you push it, then it becomes work and not enjoyable at all.

The holidays have a lot to do with it, for me any ways. Trying to get the house decorated, the extra curricula activities of my two sons, and all the shopping and getting ready for the big day. All of this comes first before I even think about my collection.

When I do have a spare moment, I will do small things - like sorting or removing self adhesive stamps from paper with Pure Citrus. I try not to start anything big, knowing that I will not be able to finish it any time soon.

Visiting SB helps to keep me motivated and in contact with the hobby, knowing that in a month or so, I will be happily enjoying my collection/hobby again.

Drink beer. OK no don't do that! Seriously, I am experiencing this also as of late. I do almost exactly what Alyn said. Very good advice.

Leave it all alone, don't overthink it and come back to it when it interests you again.

I agree with most of the views and advice expressed above. I also identify with Bear's problem as i am experiencing a similar hiatus with no solution in sight. But, I am not worried...if it returns good if it doesn't something else will, I am sure.

When mail order approvals were in their prime in the '50s and ''60s, the winter months of Jan, Feb, and March were when a vast majority of stamp collectors would enjoy their stamps because they couldn't go out. It was more comfortable to stay in a warm house. But then, we all got a second car, stores began opening on Sunday, television watching burgeoned, then computers.

I used to sell a lot on approval in the mid-to late-'60s. That all died around the time of the Watergate scandal.

Aaaargh! I got the address wrong on the jigsaw
puzzles, just in case anybody tried to find them
from my instructions above!

I should have written - "thejigsaw" !