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Productivity Killers That Eat Up The Clock
How often have you said to yourself at the end of the day, “I didn’t finish everything I needed to get done.”
Whether you are a part-time artist or a full-time artist, it is easy to have multiple tasks stack up as time slips by.
Accomplishing more during the day does not mean putting in more hours.
Completing tasks starts with time management.
Knowing how vital time management is for artists, I list productive killers to avoid throughout the day.
6 Productivity Killers Artists Should Stay Away From
Interruptions throughout the day are inevitable. Unexpected situations will arise and throw a wrench in your game plan.
Those interruptions will be out of your control, and you should deal with them as they come.
However, other distractions should be avoided at all costs.
Let’s go over them so you can accomplish more in less time.
6 Productivity Killers Artists Should Stay Away From
- Incomplete Tasks
- Weak Planning
- Online Distractions
- Unproductive Tasks
- Not Prioritizing
- Being Available
Incomplete Tasks
Have you ever worked on ten projects at a time and didn’t complete any of them at the end of the day?
If you have, you are not alone.
Some people try to multitask while others switch from task A to task B to task C and back to task A to find they never complete a project.
There is no such thing as multitasking. Our brain is wired to work on one project at a time, and that is all.
Trying to work on more than one project at a time will have you not fully completing each task.
One way to avoid time killers is by completing one task at a time.
There will be some projects you will not be able to finish in a set time, and you will need to put it aside to start working on a different project for your business.
When you can not finish a task, put it aside with a note explaining where you left off and what needs to be completed to finish the project.
Add the note to your next day’s to-do list.
Poor Planning
Many artists and small businesses fail because of poor planning. It is vital to the success of your business to have well-thought-out plans.
A well-thought-out plan will not be the “perfect” one.
There is no such thing as a perfect plan.
Your plans will only be as good as they can be when writing them.
The strategy becomes more productive when you start receiving data.
The information you gather will explain in full detail the next steps you will take.
The best way to start writing a plan is to understand what you would like to accomplish and write the steps you will need to take to reach your goals.
The first plan you write will not bring you directly to the finish line. The first plan is the start, the beginning of the journey.
The perfect plan is developing a strategy, implementing it, assessing the outcome, and revising the project to make it more effective.
Related Post – Bullet Journal Weekly Logs vs. Daily Logs What Works Best
Online Distractions
We live in a time where you can generate revenue by selling your art to people you have never met before. It is incredible just thinking about it.
Even though it is incredible what we can do with technology, it is a productivity killer for some.
It is easy for people to get distracted by instantly searching for content from their PC or mobile devices.
How often have you lost valuable time scrolling down a newsfeed?
Was it business-related, or were you wasting time?
We have all become victims of this silent time killer. The videos, the beautiful images, and the funny quotes make it easy for us to lose track of what is happening around us.
The best way for you to avoid this is by being aware of when it is happening.
There will be many times when it happens. Become aware of what you are doing and stop. The funny videos and images you are looking at will still be there when you are done working.
In time, you will start to realize you are not becoming lost in the social media frenzy, wasting time while you are working.
Spending time on social media sites will be a large part of your art marketing plan. The best way to stay productive is to have a plan, accomplish the task, then get off the platform.
Unproductive Tasks
How many times do you get caught up doing something that is not productive?
What I mean by that is, how often do you do something that will not bring you closer to your goals?
Here is an example.
If you spend an hour a day marketing on Facebook with nothing in return, you waste your time. It is an unproductive task.
You might get a few likes, shares, and comments here and there, but what is that accomplishing?
Sure it feels good when someone compliments you but is it helping you pay your bills?
You want to put all your efforts into something that helps you achieve your business goals.
Not Prioritizing
We all do things that come quickly to us, and we all put off things that are difficult or not as pleasing.
Unfortunately, things that come quickly to you might not be the most productive tasks.
There will be things that you will have to do for you to be successful in selling art.
One way to overcome this is by prioritizing tasks throughout the day.
Put the essential tasks first to get them done and out of the way.
Once you have completed the task, cross it off your list and start on the next project.
Final Thoughts Oh Productivity Killers To Avoid
It is not easy to run a business, never mind doing it yourself.
If you have a passion for creating and selling art, you will have to learn to be more productive with your time.
Time management is a skill that can be learned. At first, you will have to focus on changing some of your old habits, but you will have new habits in a short amount of time and accomplish more in less time.
Favorite Time Management Books
Time Management Magic: How to Get More Done Every Day and Move from Surviving to Thriving
More Related Time Management Posts
- Productive Artist – Stay Away From Time Killers
- 3 Productivity Apps | Stay In Control Of Your Art Business
- How To Be More Productive With Your Art Blog
- Measuring Productivity – How Artists Can Earn More Money And Work Less
