Time
Management:
I am just going to say it: I hate
schedules. To me the represent the antithesis of the creative spirit and
impulsivity; however, as a blogger, artist and professional, I have found that
I will easily forget important tasks or waste my time without some structure to
my week. You have to find the right balance of organization versus flexibility
to optimize your time without killing your creative process. Some people love
to create detailed “roadmaps,” breaking down to the minute each activity
throughout the day with color-coordinated highlights… Eck! Not for me, but if
that works for you then by all means use it.
Here is how I schedule – “To Do List!” I
generally do not plan out each day, but the tasks to be completed each week.
Any task that must be done every day, like posting two photos on Instagram each
day + 20min liking my follower’s pics, I list accordingly: the name of the
activity and a box for each day that I need to do that activity. I simply check
mark a box once I complete the task that day.
Here is my loose “schedule” “To Do
List!” for this week:
Instagram
(20min on Likes):
Twitter
(3-4 Tweets Each Day)
Facebook
Page Posts:
Comment
on Other Blog’s Facebook Pages
Google+
(2 New Posts and 10min +1s/Comments)
Join
Blog Linkups
Practice
Guitar (20-30min)
Practice
Redwood Duo Concert Set (Piano, 30min)
Exercise
(45min)
Any
project that does not need to be repeated I simply list, like so:
Write
“Productive Creative Life” Blog Article (by Tuesday)
Write
“Color Mixing (painting)” Blog Article (by Next Tuesday)
Write
“Cats + Linkup” Blog Article (By Thursday)
Create
New Photo Contest (Image)
Photography
(Take New Photo Set)
Edit
Frames - Painting Video
Record
Voice Over/Audio Edit Painting Video
Apply
to Arts/Craft Show
Mail
Sold “Baja” Painting
Create
Two New Paintings (2-6 hours)
Once a project has been completed, I cross
it off my list (oh so satisfying!). Now this may be an ambitious list to some,
but that’s ok, anything that I do not complete will be rolled over to the
following week. This list does not include every task that I complete during
the week (household cleaning, etc.), but only those undertakings that relate to
creative projects or blogging.
Here are two “To Do List” layouts from
Amazon that would work well with my system:
Get Inspired!
Watch, read or check out the work of another artist who
inspires you at least once a week. There are many great artists who
share their work on Google+, YouTube, Twitter… see what they are creating this
week, and get inspired by it! It is nice to know that you are part of a
community of other people who are also creating new things. This is a handy way
to get out of a slump, to get motivated, and to feel less isolated from the
rest of the world.
Right now, I follow many different artists, but this week I
am enjoying the work of Liam Rainsford, Dave Usher, Mark Crilley, and Bonnie
Wiltse, among others. Be careful, don’t go binge-watching YouTube videos and
not get anything accomplished. I will watch a video or spend 10 minutes looking
at photographs or artwork, but not more than that.
Mark C.
Bonnie W.
Easy Does It:
Now that you have your “To Do List,” start with the easiest
task first. Why? Because you want to get the ball rolling, starting your
productive day. If you are like me, a procrastinator, you have to begin
somewhere, and the easiest task, usually the fastest to complete, will
jump-start your motivation to get things done. Generally, I find that a
snowball effect occurs: once I finish one task, I am energized to complete
others.
After you finish an easy project, next begin the most
necessary task for that day. For example, I started with my Instagram first
thing yesterday morning, while I prepared my wife’s breakfast and lunch for her
day at work. Once she was out the door, I began writing this article, a
necessary task because it had to be posted today (Tuesday). As an aside, I
usually like to be at least a week ahead with my blogging, but after my trip to
California last week for that educational conference, I am running a bit
behind.
Balance the Fun/Not-Fun Tasks
If you spend a day working on several necessary tasks all in
a row, be sure to take some time and work on a fun creative project the
following day (if possible). It is much harder to be productive if you dislike
every task that you must complete.
If I were to rank my projects for this week, the most fun project would either be capturing the new photo set or creating two new paintings. On the other hand, my least “fun” task will be editing the painting video, because I find the process somewhat tedious (doesn’t require much mental engagement). Be sure that you include a few activities that you enjoy during your week to keep up your productivity.
If I were to rank my projects for this week, the most fun project would either be capturing the new photo set or creating two new paintings. On the other hand, my least “fun” task will be editing the painting video, because I find the process somewhat tedious (doesn’t require much mental engagement). Be sure that you include a few activities that you enjoy during your week to keep up your productivity.
Optimize Your Work Environment!
Some sources suggest listening to upbeat music to get motivated, but I would add the caveat of listening only if it does not imped productivity. Work in a well-lit space, preferable natural lighting, and sitting up in a chair. For those of you who work at home, avoid working in bed, I know it sounds like the dream, but it really seems to kill my perseverance whenever I have tried to do so. Feel free to take breaks, but set a timer, to remind yourself to get back to work. If you work best in a clean area, then be sure that you have one. Cleaning your space a couple times each week can even be one of your “To Do List” goals. Most importantly, find out what works for you and then stick to it!
Here's a great reminder article that I wrote about the importance of perseverance: "Thoughts on Perseverance."
That's All!
Some sources suggest listening to upbeat music to get motivated, but I would add the caveat of listening only if it does not imped productivity. Work in a well-lit space, preferable natural lighting, and sitting up in a chair. For those of you who work at home, avoid working in bed, I know it sounds like the dream, but it really seems to kill my perseverance whenever I have tried to do so. Feel free to take breaks, but set a timer, to remind yourself to get back to work. If you work best in a clean area, then be sure that you have one. Cleaning your space a couple times each week can even be one of your “To Do List” goals. Most importantly, find out what works for you and then stick to it!
Here's a great reminder article that I wrote about the importance of perseverance: "Thoughts on Perseverance."
That's All!
All right, there are my five tips for being more productive
creatively. These of course can be applied to any tasks, not just creative or
blog related ones, but they do work well to increase my productivity each week.
In all honesty, some weeks are much better than others, but overall, keep
striving towards your goals, call on your perseverance, and be productive
today!
Question of the Day:
What system do you use to stay productive?
Let me know in
the comment section below or on the
Have a fantastic, productively creative week!
—Charles
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