People who work 9-5 are generally obliged to follow a timetable, under the pressure of pay cuts or to create a statement for the juniors or to impress and show the discipline to their seniors.
On the contrary, artists who are their own masters have double jobs. They act as the owner of their business and hire themselves for not only 9-5 but for 9-9 or maybe more.
I always use that analogy because I worked in corporate for 10 years and now in the art field for a few years. Initially, many make mistakes of not managing their time well. Time is money, is real for independent individuals whose financial reward is directly proportional to their work.
Time management is crucial in the life of an artist.
How do you manage your day and live through a successful and fruitful year and a happy fulfilling life?
1. Journaling – The importance of writing journals really helps manage your day well. This is a process where you develop a habit of writing a journal/ or you may say start with a to-do list and to maintain a follow-up. I have been practicing journaling for a few years and this really helps you to evolve into a better and stronger individuals. I will cover more details about journaling in my next blog.
2. Reminders – Smart phones and smart watches are not just to remind you to drink water during the day. You can use them to remember your work list or an important task. The human brain cannot remember everything, which is why we must plan and use technology for our own profit.
3. Write and celebrate your accomplishments – A successful project or a great sale can remind you that you have managed everything well, including your time. If you miss the time, someone else will seize the opportunity. If you are on time and priority you can earn in any situation.
4. Set realistic targets- There is a concept of goal setting where it is explained that one should set SMART goals, it means S – Smart, M – Measurable A- Achievable, R- Realistic, T- Timely. As this concept , studied in my masters and implied in the business, is the key for time management , I want to share in the art world. As mentioned earlier , that we all artists are entrepreneurs of our own talents and have to earn money. So, if we can replicate some Success Mantras from the world of business management, this makes our business easy. Therefore, setting goals that will not interfere with your smooth running should be reconsidered.
5. Manage your emails, messages and social media well – Checking, replying to mails and deleting spam can take hours. Similarly, social media and interesting but unrelated content can kill your productivity driving procrastination. That may in turn change your plan of the next day and so on. So control yourself to fall for any engaging or entertaining content on social media or games on smart phones . Thanks to artificial intelligence for advertising strategy.
To summarize, you are your own master and you create your own destiny to make your own dreams and wishes come true. These are directly proportional to your efforts. Make the most of it.
Stay tuned to my next blog on journaling.
Art Blogs by Reena Naik 