“Chasing Restlessness: Discovering What I Was Really Avoiding”

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This weekend, I set out to finally put away the Christmas decorations and the tree. Normally, I do this on January 1st, but after building our house and skipping a tree for two years, I felt like I deserved a little extra time to enjoy the season. Once everything was packed up and the house cleaned, I thought I’d feel accomplished—but instead, I felt restless.

To channel that energy, I convinced my husband to help me rearrange the living room. After moving the couches, area rug, and coffee table, I thought I’d feel better. Oddly enough, the space didn’t look much different when we finished. The couch and loveseat ended up back in the same spots, though the sofa table did find a new home. I dusted, fussed, and tried to convince myself that this was the itch I needed to scratch.

My thinking chair - it didn’t work today.

Nope.
So, I turned to something that always brings me joy—making soap. The creative process often helps me clear my mind, and I hoped it would give me the clarity to figure out what was truly bothering me. Sure enough, as I measured oils and waited for my lye to cool, it hit me: I had been procrastinating on launching my online soap store.

My go to, favorite soap. Little fragrance, just good stuff.

At the start of the year, I set a goal to have my store up and running, but I’d been avoiding the logistical side of things. Making soap is the fun part, but figuring out payment systems, shipping logistics, packaging, and all the accompanying paperwork? Not so much. The thought of diving into tax ID numbers, state forms, and record-keeping had me paralyzed. These tasks had been bouncing around in my head for weeks, and my inner self had had enough. It was time to face the facts: I either wanted to do this or I didn’t.

The Sea Salt Bar that brought clarity. Ironic that it’s a spa bar!

While my lye cooled, I took a deep breath, did some soul-searching, and opened the state websites I’d been avoiding. To my surprise, once I got started, the process wasn’t as overwhelming as I’d imagined. I submitted a few forms and began tackling the federal requirements. Progress, however small, felt good.

Next, I turned my attention to choosing which soaps to sell. I decided to start with my staple bars: Oatmeal & Honey, Rustic Rose, Eucalyptus, and a couple of others. I made a list of tasks to organize my thoughts and keep myself on track:

• Take professional photos of my core soap line.

• Figure out packaging options for 1-4 bars.

• Calculate costs, including packaging and website fees.

• Learn the listing process on Squarespace (my blog’s platform).

• Research selling on Etsy.

• Panic (because there’s always something to panic about).

• Keep up with my day job.

Rustic Rose Bar

I also realized that I needed a realistic schedule to manage my evenings after work. Creating daily tasks to chip away at my goals would help me stay sane and keep my inner self satisfied.

This weekend’s restlessness was a wake-up call. Procrastination was holding me back, but I’m finally taking steps to move forward. I’m venturing into the online marketplace and will share my progress as I approach my launch date. Once I’ve finalized some paperwork, I’ll post a timeline and keep you updated on this journey.

Thank you for joining me as I tackle these challenges head-on! If you’re working on a project you’ve been putting off, know that you’re not alone—and there’s no better time to start than now.

Looking back, I realized that I’d unintentionally taken on a New Year’s resolution—and started making progress on it without even realizing it. Sometimes, the best way to honor a goal is simply to start, even if it’s messy or imperfect. Here’s to all of us tackling our resolutions, one small step at a time.

A few batches of soap curing.