Do you feel like you can not get everything done during the day? Do you feel like working at home can sometimes feel more stressful than working somewhere else? In this post, I am going to talk about the importance of setting boundaries for your art business so you can get more done in less time.
How Your Art Business Can Only Survive With Boundaries
There are many benefits that are associated with working at home.
It does not matter if you are a full-time artist or a part-time artist, generating an income from the comfort of your home is a great feeling.
Kevin Kruse wrote a post for Forbes that highlights the benefits of working at home.
- Work/home balance
- Save gas
- Avoid traffic
- More Productive
- Less distractions
- Eliminate long commute
- Quieter atmosphere
- Less stressful environment
- More time with family
- Environmentally friendly
You can read more by visiting Top 10 Benefits Of Working From Home (Survey Results)
With all of the benefits that come from working at home comes a list of obstacles.
Jill Harness wrote a post for Lifehack that explains the most popular disadvantages of working from home.
- Children or family demanding attention
- Difficulty concentrating on work issues
- Children, family, and pets disturbing work telephone calls
- No access to office equipment
- Household noises
- Bad internet connection
- Television on
- Lack of proper work surface
- Bad posture
- Pets demanding attention
You can read more by visiting The Disadvantages Of Working From Home
Below are some helpful tips that will help you to be more productive with your time working at home.
Setting Boundaries
Did you find yourself nodding your head up and down when you were reading the most popular disadvantages of working from home?
Do people distract you while you are doing your computer work?
Do you find it difficult to concentrate?
Do you have a designated work area?
Are their specific times that are dedicated to your art business?
How many times have you went on Facebook to publish a post and you find yourself scrolling down your newsfeed to see what is up with your friends?
There are many distractions that are associated with working at home but by simply setting a few boundaries will be able to make your days more productive and less stressful.
Starting An Art Business
If you are selling your artwork you are running a business.
Many artists turn their heads to the words business, marketing and promoting.
The misconception that “business” is a negative thing will only prevent you from achieving your goals.
Business is defined as the practice of making one’s living by engaging in commerce.
There is nothing wrong with earning an income from your creations and services. You have worked hard to get to where you are and it is time that you start to get paid for your talents.
Before I talk about how to set boundaries for your art business I would like you to become familiar with what is involved with operating an online art business.
You can find everything you need to know about starting an online art business by visiting Sell Art Online Startup Plan.
After you have read the post above you will have a clear understanding of how much time you will need to devote to your business.
This brings us to creating boundaries so you can get your work done in a timely manner.
Blocking Off Time For Work
You are going to find that people may not understand that you are working when you are at home.
Even though there are more people working from home, the misconception is when someone is at home they are available for social activities.
Blocking off time for work and sharing your schedule with people you are in contact with will help you to keep some peace during your working hours.
Most people would not call you or visit you at a workplace to socialize unless it is an emergency, the same should be true when you are working at home.
Put Your Smartphone On Silence
When was the last time you didn’t have your phone in arm’s length?
How many times are you checking your phone?
Did you know that Americans check their phones 80 times a day? (Source: New York Post)
One way you can be sure to get more work done during the time you blocked off is by getting rid of distractions like your smartphone.
You can always check your phone on your break to see if there is something important you have to attend to.
If there are no emergencies put them down and finish your work. You will have the rest of the day to be on your phone.
Block Off Time For Specific Projects
Sometimes it is difficult to stay focused on specific projects when you are working at home.
One way you can fix this problem is by having a checklist and blocking off time for each project.
If you say that you only have thirty minutes to write a blog post, you will sit down and write as much as you can in thirty minutes.
The same goes true with every task you will be working on.
How can you make more money selling your art online?
- Create more art
- Promote more
- Engage with your audience more
If you want to create more art, set a time when you need to complete a project.
If you want to promote more set a time limit on marketing your artwork.
If you want to stay in touch with your audience set a time limit on when you can communicate with them.
The best way to stay focused on specific projects it to block off time for each task and hold yourself accountable.
Set Up A Work Space
You are going to need an area where you can create your artwork as well as an area for marketing tasks.
Take some time to decide what will work best for you. You might have access to a room or you might only have a corner of a room available. With a little creativity, you can design an area that will be perfect for your art business.
Try to find a place where you can do your work with good postures like at a desk or a table with a good chair.
Many people find it comfortable to do their computer work sitting on a couch. The problem with this is that you could injure yourself because you are sitting with bad posture for long periods of time.
You will have plenty of time to relax on a couch at the end of the day.
Limit Your Time With Negative People
Negative people will wear you down emotionally and physically. There will be no way you can distance yourself from all of them but you can limit your time with them and learn what to say so you do not set off any sparks.
Try to spend more time with positive people. Their energy will motivate you to be the best you can be.
They will support your dreams and be there for you when times are tough.
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Conclusion:
By setting a few boundaries at home and in your personal life you will soon realize that being an artist and working at home is like living in paradise.
It takes commitment and discipline to be able to work at home but if this is what you really want you will do whatever it takes to get the job done.
If you struggle with time management you might be interested in my eBook Get More Done in Less Time The Part-time Artist. In this eBook, I share all of the tips I have learned over the past 16 years operating on online art business.
How You Art Business Can Only Survive With Boundaries Overview:
- Setting Boundaries
- Starting An Art Business
- Blocking Off Time For Work
- Put Your Smartphone On Silence
- Block Off Time For Specific Projects
- Set Up A Workspace
- Limit Your Time With Negative People
28 Day Blogging Challenge for Visual Artists
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The Productive Artist How to Live Your Dreams
The right mindset and time management skills are essential for any business. These topics are often not talked about but are key elements for your success. You will learn how to have a winning mindset and time management skills necessary for operating a successful art business.
Available at Amazon or Download your copy today.
Get More Done in Less Time The Part-time Artist
Proven strategies that will help you to get more work done in less time so you can sell more art and earn more money.
Available at Amazon or Download your copy today.
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