Do you struggle to scrapbook where you didn't before?

I get it...when I am overwhelmed I walk away and nothing gets done.  What often helps me is to scrap recent photos and not worry about the older ones waiting. I have also found it helpful to sort through to be scrapped stuff and break it down to manageable steps ( most of which are still waiting ) So first I pull out ephemera and sort that by decade, then I pulled out photos and did the same. Next is going through that and reducing further, deciding what really needs to scrapped and what I can just store or get rid of. If all that fails make a card!!! Hugs - I feel your pain!!

I find it difficult to scrapbook if I have too many photos of an event. It stresses me out. I do much better if I have 1 or 2 photos to do.

My solution is to break down the events into smaller chunks.

I also grab a sketch or layout to scraplift when my mojo is gone. That gets me started.

Yep!! Thus why I haven't done it in several years! I have my area all set up, and have lots of new goodies and organization I just haven't been able to sit down at my desk and DO it. I think some of the "problem" is that I used to use my scrappy time as my "me" time, away from husband, kids, etc. I don't need that anymore because I'm out of the marriage that I was escaping from. Don't get me wrong, he wasn't abusive or anything like that, but I was lonely, even when he was right across the room. Now, I have a wonderful man in my life that pays attention to me, even when we're just watching tv or whatever. I don't want to be in my room alone anymore. LOL

Since 2009

I remember how excited I was to scrap when I first started. I scrapped almost everyday during my kids' naptime and I loved it. I wonder if I'll ever get that back.
I've been feeling like it's a chore lately too and haven't gotten much done. There are quite a few reasons why I just haven't felt like scrapping lately but I'll just say that I'm working on not forcing myself and also not feeling guilty about not doing it. It will all be there when I do want to scrap. There's an ebb and flow. One thing I've noticed is that I'm not thrilled with the creative process anymore. It's more about having the story documented so maybe simplifying the process would help me. I've always been drawn to clean and simple layouts so I should let go of the pressure to embellish.  

Scrapbooking is my favorite pursuit so I get frustrated when I can't scrap. No crop is long enough and I don't scrap at home. I get overwhelmed by how many photos I still want to scrap in my lifetime.

I also am not organized with my supplies and that is overwhelming. I pull up a bag, go through it, pull out a few things, shove the rest back in the bag.

I’ve cime to realize that when I’m feeling depressed or uninspired to stay away from my desk and ride the storm out. It will (and does) pass and if I try to force creativity, it makes things worse.

I definitely have times where the mojo runs low. Sometimes a new photo or a new product will get me jump started. Other times, I watch a YouTube scrapbooking video or flip through a magazine. Or just let myself walk away from the scraproom and come back to it later. Try one of these options.

I haven't scrapbooked much in the last few years.
I blame it on my cat. I can't leave anything out, because she gets into it. 
I live in a studio, so I don't have a separate scrapbook room anymore.
I like everything out on my scrapbook table, and don't want to put everything away each and every time. I tried covering it with a sheet, but everything clings to it when I take it off, and it was a pain in the ass. 

I'm still trying to figure out a solution to cover it, when I am done scrapbooking. Kind of like a pan lid, put the lid on, take it off.....but on a larger scale. 
I was thinking of trying a curtain panel and with pool noodles in the ends of it, so it would lift without stuff clinging. 

Total disclaimer: the following only applies to me. I am not saying it applies to anyone else.

Women are natural nurturers. I often do for others before myself, so pouring money and time into a hobby that is strictly for my own pleasure isn't something I was comfortable owning up to. How many times have you heard someone say that they scrap just for themselves, only for fun or relaxation, vs hearing about how important it is to document our lives and the lives of our families? Every rule and reasoning for starting this hobby was a chain that bound me to continue it. If I didn't tell our story, who would? The pretty paper was just a necessary evil, not something that was frivolously purchased for myself. My job as the family scrapbooker (yep, it was now a job, as in a chore) was vital.

I would buy scrap supplies instead of splurging on anything I deemed too frivolous, like a pretty purse or shoes. Those items would have been only for me, and that would make me selfish, right? Paying $2 a sheet for paper made me a caring wife and mother though.

Eventually stash overwhelmed me. At the same time I felt stressed and pressured to create these fabulous layouts. I hated to go into my craft room. Hell, I wished I had never HAD a craft room. At some point, I wished I had never seen a scrapbook or heard of this hobby at all. It was a time and money suck, and another thing to juggle.

A couple of years ago, I realized I wasn't loving it anymore. I liked making cards, enjoyed making gift wrap packaging, even liked sewing and reading and watercoloring. But I just dreaded scrapbooking. So I packed the stuff up and kept out only what I needed for the stuff I enjoyed. My craft room was now a haven, and guilty purchases no longer stared at me when I went in there. I still took pictures, but didn't feel the need to make layouts. When I had free time to relax, I just did exactly whatever I felt like doing.

After awhile, I started scrapping events again. Nothing fancy, not a ton of embellishment, very basic. I don't look at layouts online, watch process videos, or anything like that. I buy zero supplies unless I'm out of adhesive. I look at it as a fun way to pass an afternoon with no pressure or end game in mind. I do smaller albums for Christmas, usually 6x8. The whole family enjoys looking at them, but I make them just for me. My daughter has a school album. I put cute photo of her throughout the year into it, along with any certificates and such that she gets. It's a regular ring binder size, and I have about 3 years in one so far. She won't be overwhelmed with how to store the stuff later.

I had to quit to continue. It might not work for you. I have more enthusiasm now for this hobby and several others than I felt since the first year I scrapbooked. I don't consider myself a scrapbooker. I am a CRAFTER. I think in terms of projects, and I don't necessarily want to do the same project every day for the rest of my life.

It helps not to pre-buy supplies, and only scrap what you're drawn to. It may be the trip you just went on, or your dog, rather than Christmas 6 years ago. Part of the excitement is finding new papers and ideas, and if you do that too far in advance, it loses a bit of its luster (for me at least).