Are you finding it difficult to get everything done in your day? Do you find yourself putting projects off while doing other projects that are not as productive? In this post, you will discover how planning your day will be more productive so you can get more done in less time and sell more art.
“Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.”
~ Stephen King
Planning Your Day
Living the life of an artist is many people’s dream. To be able to make a living from what you love is priceless.
The working artist can make their own schedule and dress as they wish. There is no boss looking over your shoulder. You will not have to scrape the ice off your car in the morning during the winter months.
Working at home and being your boss has many benefits but there can also be many distractions making it difficult to finish important projects.
To get the most out of your time you need to develop a plan that will work best for you.
“A man who does not plan long ahead will find trouble at his door.”
~ Confucius
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Define Your Work
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase by clicking on an affiliate link, Nevue Fine Art Marketing may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Affiliate relationships include, but are not limited to, Bluehost, Tailwind, Skimlinks, SareASale and StudioPress. To learn more visit Affiliate Link Disclosure Policy
Before you can begin planning your day, you need to have a clear picture of what needs to get done.
You can not develop a plan if you do not know what you are planning.
Every artist will have different jobs that will need to be attended to.
Oil painters will have to schedule in time to clean their brushes and wait for their paint to dry.
Graphite artists will have other responsibilities to focus on.
Take some time to sit down and define what needs to get done for your art business.
Creating a to-do-list has many benefits and you should get in the habit of writing one for every day.
Write the most important jobs on the top of the to-do-list. These will be the jobs you will want to focus on first. After you have completed those tasks, start going down the list.
Here is an example of what your daily to-do-list might look like.
To-do-list:
- Create art
- Ship Art
- Online Marketing
- Accounting
- Ordering Supplies
Define Your Workspace
This could be difficult for some work at home artists.
Home is home and work is work.
Your business at home needs a designated working area.
When you go to the designated working area you will be mentally prepared to get to work.
Keep the workspace organized so you can easily start working. You do not want to start your day ransacking through the entire house for something you need.
If you live in a smaller home, you might want to set up a studio in the corner of a room.
Keeping the area organized and clean will prevent it from being a nuisance to others who live in the house.
You will also need space for completed artwork as well as supplies.
There are a large variety of DIY organizing tips you can find on Pinterest that will help you to create the best workspace for your home.
Have a Space for Your Office
Your office should be a place with limited distractions. This will be the place where you will be focusing on your artist blog, emails, newsletters, accounting and social media accounts.
There will be important paperwork you will want to keep safe and organized. Designate a place where you can keep them separate from all of your other household paperwork.
You might want to consider purchasing a computer dedicated to your art business.
The chance of something happening to a computer increase when it is being used by multiple users. The computer will be one of the most used tools you will be using on a daily basis for your art business.
I recommend purchasing a PC for your online art business. PC’s have more storage and are more durable than laptops. I have gone through a few laptops quickly because of the powerful software I use like Photoshop.
Even though you will have a designated room or area for your office there still will be distractions. This is inevitable working at home.
Planning your day around the distractions will increase your productivity.
Tips for being more productive in the office:
- Turn off all notifications on your smartphone.
- Only answer the phone if it is an emergency.
- Close the door.
- Let others in the house know you will be working and you will let them know when you are done.
- Stay off social media sites unless you are promoting your artwork.
- Keep all paperwork organized and well documented.
- Schedule time to work when there is little or no distractions at home.
Daily Schedule
A daily routine is important. You want to wake up every day knowing exactly what you need to get done for that day.
Planning your day starts with a to-do-list.
Write a list of jobs you would like to accomplish for each day.
Review your to-do-list at the end of the day and write a new list for the next day. If something did not get done during the day, make it a top priority for the next day.
You will be going to bed knowing what tomorrow brings and when morning comes around you will be focused and ready to tackle the day.
Breaks
Your brain and body need a break throughout the day. You are not a machine that can perform twenty-four hours straight.
Schedule in small breaks and a lunch break during your workday. Stopping for ten or fifteen minutes will increase your productivity.
Planning your day with a lunch break will allow you to refuel and refocus.
When the workday is over, punch out. If something did not get done you will need to set that as a priority for the next day.
Conclusion:
Planning your day ahead of time will greatly reduce unnecessary stress in your life and have your time be more productive.
Designate areas in your home for a workspace.
Plan your days ahead of time.
Schedule in breaks and lunch throughout the day.
At the end of the day, punch out.
Are you finding it easy to work at home or do you find yourself easily distracted?
You might also be interested in:
- Productive Artist – Beat the Clock
- Schedule Fun Time to be a More Productive Artist
- Why Sell Art Online and How to Start
- How to be More Productive Working at Home
- Working Artist – Getting Stuff Done
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By Dave Nevue
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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.
