TIPS.
I don’t know about you but I start the day calm and confident,
thinking that I’m going to accomplish all the 14 items on my to-do list only to
look at the clock at 4PM thinking “ Where did the time go? I still have 10 things to get done!
” If you’ve ever had that experience too, you know what I mean. Being
self-employed can be a wonderfully freeing experience IF you’re able to manage your time well. I’ve
been working from home now for the past 7 years and have tried many things in
my quest for better time management. These simple and free time hacks that have worked for me so
I hope they help you as well!
1. Make a list
I’m a compulsive list maker. I’ve been known
to make grocery lists then leave them at home but recall all the items on the
list anyway. Something about writing things down really helps me commit them to memory, at least
for the short term. Since I left the lists at home more than once, that led me
to my next tip.
2. Put your list on your phone
There are many
organizational apps out there but the one that I’m using right now is
Wunderlist. I’m using the free version but you can upgrade for $4.99. The things I like about Wunderlist are that it
lets you share your list with others and then anyone can add to that list on
the fly. You can also add notes to each task or add them to your iCal. Plus, if you’re like me, you always
have your phone with you so that eliminates the possibility of leaving that
list on the table!
3. Set a timer
For me, the toughest thing to do is to make
myself sit for at least 2 hours uninterrupted and sketch or draw. I love doing
it but somehow always find things to distract myself. I have several freelancer friends who told me about
setting a timer to accomplish daily tasks. I have to admit I was stubborn for
awhile about doing this, thinking “I know how to manage my time! I don’t need a timer to help
me out.” But then I tried it and now I’m hooked! I know there are also timer
apps to be had but I just use the timer app on my iPhone. Each day I set a timer for
2 hours and do nothing but sketch or draw on the computer. My productivity has
gone way up as a result and I feel more calm in the afternoon, knowing that I made
progress on whatever project I’m working on.
4. Remember this: “ There is always, only, just this one
step” -Eckhart Tolle
I love this saying by Eckhart Tolle. He has written very
eloquently about living in the moment and whenever I get overwhelmed thinking I
have WAY too much to do, I try to remind myself of these simple words. We can, in reality, only
do one thing at a time. We can try to multitask but recent studies have shown
that multitasking is a myth, as dividing your attention doesn’t really help you accomplish more
tasks, but it can add to a feeling of agitation or frustration.
5. Make time for something just for you
It’s really
tempting to just go down that chore list marking off things like paying the
insurance bill etc, but have you ever added something to your list that is not work related? I try to always add
one thing to my list that I use as my reward for getting several drudgery tasks
done--like meeting a friend for coffee or taking that Pilates class I keep saying I’ll take but never and
time for. ( To me, finding time to go to the gym several times a week is a
little gift I give myself that helps me stay sane and also step away from my desk.)
I hope that these few easy time hacks help you! Do you have
some time management tips or apps that help you out? I’d love to hear about
them if so!
-T
It’s always inspiring to me to see how different artist can use architecture to influence their work since architecture is a pretty heavy influence in my own work. Naum Gabo (1890-1977) redefined the relationship between architecture and art many, many years ago with his surprising use of his architectural knowledge in traditionally soft, fluid designs such as faces or bodies. I’ve always appreciated his use of clean lines and several dimensional angles. You can see examples of this to the right as well as more of his work below!
