Really Getting Frustrated

I am really beginning to feel overwhelmed. The countries, the old stamps, the new stamps, the forgeries, the paper types, the glue types the watermarks, the perforations, the grills. I really do love it all, but I just feel like there is too much and I can't get it organized. Everyone, has been so helpful and I can't repay that kindness, without learning and catching up. I suppose it will come, but I sure wish I had a better handle on what I have. Sorry to spout but so many of you have a club to go to and chat one on one, this is my only place to chat, learn and whine. Thanks to everyone and this forum has really taken my love of collecting to a whole new level. Now if I can just deal with it. Thanks - Jeff

I know how you feel Jeff! Maybe it would be easier if you designated "one project a day"...this is how I've had to go about things. I found myself SO distracted all of the time. Like "Oh this ones nice, OH but so is this one"...then before you know it you have 100,000 questions all over the place with some completely unrelated. Haha! I share your feelings...perhaps the one a day may help :) Keep the questions and comments coming. Happy Stamping! :) ~Ash

Take a deep breath and count to 10......No one can know everything regarding stamps. The hobby is meant to relax you not stress you out. We are here for you. Welcome to stamp collectors anonymous.

Stamperdude you cracked me up! My husband keeps threatening to send me there!! (or his "stampaholics anonymous") SOOO relieved, I'm already here. hahaha!!

What are they talking about ?? I have been a stamp collector since 1949 have lots of good stuff but totally dis organized..my poor heirs..i jump from this to that to this..like a kid at Christmas..i actually communicate with collectors who have NO DUPLICATES ! What world are they living in ??? I got a million of them !! Jeff stop whining !

JH I think were brothers from another Mother! I've gotten to the point of almost blowing a gasket a few times yet mostly it is my escape mechanism. Theres alot of tools and catalogs and helpful storage things I should be buying but I always deffer to purchase more stamps. Then I get a slight handle on things and read something totally new and poof there I am revisiting back from the beggining while other things back up. Fortunatly at 43 I hope to not get things done until about 63, God willing so take a break , put it all away or aside and just admire your classics for a day or two and remember why you enjoy this.
PS My Name is Chris and I am an addict!!

I felt the same way a couple of years ago. Now I work on one coutry at a time until I get frustrated with it and then I move on to another. Usuall when I come back to that country it's a little easier.

Dianne

Jeff, I see from your recent postings that you are jumping from country to country to country. As stated by others, stop and take a deep breath. Relax, it is a hobby and nobody is looking over your shoulder questioning why something hasn't been tackled or properly organized. I haven't organized my collections but can enjoy them just the same.

Jeff, I've been through this stage. If it stops being fun, do as others have suggested - take a deep breath and relax.

My mantra to get through it was - its a marathon, not a sprint. Its a hobby for a lifetime. The stamps will wait for you to get around to them.

How about taking a break from "working" on your stamps to just flicking through them and enjoying them.

Jeff, this is a common side effect of information overload. You are learning new thing on the forum faster than you can check check you collection. I agree with lux1228, setup a projects list on your pc. Break the projects up into smaller tasks that can be completed in 1-2 days. When you see new info here just add it to your projects list.
It is real easy to take on many projects at one time but seeing these multiple projects to successful completion is much harder.

been there. done that. got the t-shirt.

I went through all that with coins a few years back. was totally drowning in dis-organization, chaos and frustration. then a life-threatening illness put it all into perspective. I stepped back to look at what I had, and decided to eliminate everything and focus on one thing (Yugoslavia and it's former states). now I have a firm grasp on the coins and currency, so I am slowly working into the stamps, dealing with just a few things at a time (right now I am concentrating on the charity/tax surcharge stamps, including Red Cross and TB issues. secondary focus is BOB material, and almost as an afterthought I am picking up the normal issues, one decade at a time). It is still a cluttered mess, but I know what I have, and basically where it is at. I call it "organized dis-order" the better half has decided that since I won't spend my extra "allowance" to buy the albums and mounts and stuff I need to get things together, that she will start buying them for me. my only concern is that she will deduct it from my "allowance", which will limit my new acquisitions. but on the bright side, buying less new material will probably free up more time to organize what I already have.

Not really whining philb just standing at the intersection of 200 streets and not sure which direction to go in. Will always love my hobby but I think the one project at a time idea may have to take over. So already being on the letter T in my new acquisition set of stamps that I bought just for the US stamps, I think I will finish that and then send lux1228 her stamps and then find my 8 cent MNH Columbian for a reasonable price, then learn about armenian overprints, then figure out how to plate a stamp like Russ, then learn the arabic numbering system so I can tell the numbers one through ten (oh boy really gonna have to find that immortality pill). Thanks everyone, for the pats on the back and the kicks in the butt and the suggestions. Just have to go at my pace and have fun!

I agree to all previous post. For myself i'm not focus on classical stamps like some of you here. I have the basic to identify a stamps but on some issue you have to do research and seek help either on this forum or else on the internet. You don't go from stamp collecting 101 to a master degree over night. I don't do but I think with classicals it's good to write notes of what info you find on stamps hard to identify. And after all it's a hobby not a tyranny over you.

Most of us have probably been there at one point. I was there about 15 years ago.
I love ALL stamps but finally decided to commit to just one specialty - the U. S. stamps.
Even though, there are still some great challenges - perfs, watermarks, etc.
If you can keep the love of the hobby you WILL overcome!

Next to my avatar is the word "supporter" it may need to be changed to "enabler" or "pusher" in regards to promoting stamp collecting and its vices. lol! Wait I guess there are stamp dealers out there...

i guess we can get frustrated if we think about it...i have to be careful not to compare...for years I had great fun tearing through box lots..meanwhile my more erstwhile friends were building beautiful collections one country at a time..i am truely a hodge podge collector !!