If you couldn’t tell – I’ve been a busy girl. And you guys only know half of it! I’ve been trying out different productivity methods and such. One of the things I get asked a ton is “how do I do so much” the truth is – I don’t do 1/2 of what I’d like to do on any given day! There are a few things I have learned along the way though, so I thought I’d pause from the inky madness and share.
Work in batches. Scrambling day-of for dinner, to meet a deadline, for things needed… that’s a recipe for last minute disaster. I like to work in batches. For example, going to the grocery store if not for the week at least 3-4 days worth. While out, do a batch of errands so I’m not going out as often in general.
Own your choices. Another big thing for me- if I’m going to sit down and watch an episode of a TV show that is what I’m going to do. Blow off the end of the list and just read a book for a while? Same. The key is, whatever I do with my time I own that I’m making those choices. Whether work, play, or just catching up on things I don’t ever say “I don’t have time…” it’s more about how I’m prioritizing my time and some days I don’t make time for things.
Small steps add up. It’s true. In everything. Yes the grand cleaning of the house complete with dusting and window washing feels great! But the truth is the 5 minutes to wash and put away the breakfast dishes or the 2 minutes to start a load of laundry or the 10 minutes to tidy up my mess from the last scrapbooking session are more important. Doing little tiny ‘just a minute’ things all day long maximizes my time and helps me to avoid big ugly messes. Small choices like water not soda, or walk don’t drive add up to healthy choices, and little things creatively add up too.
You can’t work too far ahead. True story: I was going to mail my aunt’s birthday gift but I didn’t want to send it too early so I waited. Her birthday was a month ago. In the 7 weeks since I had the time and thought I totally forgot about it and when I do remember it’s never at a time when I can pack it up and take care of it. My point is: if you see an opportunity to work ahead on something – whether prepping a scrapbook album, getting a jump start on cards, or preparing for a meeting just do it. Something always comes up, there’s always a last minute something.
Make time to play. Whether it’s to go see a movie, sit for 30 minutes with a good book, or get inky. It doesn’t matter how much time or when – just make little nuggets of time just for you and just for fun. Don’t wait for the mythical free day or nothing planned opportunity. Make a little space each day.
I still have a long way on becoming a productivity master, and I’m struggling with keeping to my three item “must do” list each day… but I’ll keep working at it.
But first, a donut and some creative play…
Seeing your studio makes me want to run and work on something! I’ve decided to dedicate the time after dinner to creativity. Sometimes I stamp and color without a project in mind, knowing that eventually it will become a card, which I learned from you. It’s more important to enjoy the process than to stress over what it’s going to be when it’s fiished.
As a Professional Organizer and Productivity Consultant, I’m gratified to hear about your systems for making the most of your time. Sometimes, a coffee and donut break is what you need to boost your productivity!
Yes, the one minute or two minute tasks can be a real lifesaver to help you not feel overwhelmed. As a variant of that, if there is an item in the room that needs to go elsewhere, I take it with me the next time I leave the room. I also realized that as much as I wish all my family members would hit the hamper with their socks at the end of the day, if it really bugs me, I should just put the socks into the hamper myself. More accurately, I’m still hoping to get my child to do it herself, but have given up on my spouse, who has other wonderful qualities to make up for this one. lol
I think your productivity is amazing. Very inspiring. Cool, and clever too. I love to hear your tips and tricks, I know how busy you are with the girls and their activities. And you consistently make beautiful things, layouts, cards, canvases, everything. Michelle t
All so true – sometime I wish I had more time, but then I realise that I might not be using my time wisely!