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Make This One Change to Secure More Time to Create

- July 17, 2013 | by April -

Have you been consumed by the hairy business monster?

You know the gremlin who takes over your life with Twitter, Facebook, blogging, email, statistics, tax documents, and all that other non-creating stuff?

It happens to each of us. We start a creative business because we love making stuff, but we’re preoccupied by all the day-to-day crud.

We stop creating for days at a time. We forget what it’s like to have an entire day to paint or write or make jewelry or sew.

It’s time to carve out space for your actual creative work. And, I’ve got an easy answer as to how you can make this happen. Watch today’s video to find out what it is:

40 Comments · Filed Under: Creative Business Development, Creativity

Comments

  1. Niki Jackson says

    July 17, 2013 at 10:01 am

    It’s a deal! I’ll be painting for my book starting tomorrow.Thanks April x

    Reply
    • April says

      July 18, 2013 at 9:36 am

      Woohoo! Let us know how it goes!

      Reply
  2. ashley says

    July 17, 2013 at 10:42 am

    Deal!

    After reading Manage Your Day to Day, the most important thing I took away was to do the most important/creative work FIRST. Email can wait, quickbooks can wait, social media can wait. CREATE. (And to work in 90minute blocks of time to remain your most efficient self.)

    I turned in my notice at the Day Job and starting July 29th, I will be working for my stationery company Full-Time. First thing in the morning, design/draw/sketch/or print on the vintage printing press. Because THOSE are the most important things that I can do for myself and the company.

    So thanks for this- it’s a nice reminder!

    And Happy Birthday!!

    Reply
    • April says

      July 18, 2013 at 9:37 am

      That’s a great book! 🙂

      Congratulations Ashley!!! That’s so exciting! I wish you all the best with your stationery company.

      Thank you!

      Reply
  3. Linda says

    July 17, 2013 at 10:49 am

    Deal! I’m going to work on your Christmas present. Does that count? xo

    Reply
    • April says

      July 18, 2013 at 9:38 am

      Hmmmm…I guess it can count 😉

      Reply
  4. meghaa says

    July 17, 2013 at 10:58 am

    yes i design duppattas and i always wish i was better at illustrating my own patterns motifs.i get caught up in work and miss doing that all the time….so im going to try ure way.:)

    Reply
    • April says

      July 18, 2013 at 9:38 am

      Awesome! Let us know how it goes!

      Reply
  5. Sage Grayson says

    July 17, 2013 at 12:02 pm

    DEAL! This week I’ll be writing my blog posts for next week so I can stay ahead of schedule. No more working on things the night before. Great advice as always. 🙂

    Reply
    • Jennifer Kennedy says

      July 17, 2013 at 12:31 pm

      I’m totally on board with you, Sage!!

      I’ve been a total last minuter over the last few weeks, and I really dislike it. Since, I use my cell phone as my alarm clock, my first reaction is to check my phone when I wake up! I know I need to break that habit!

      Hmm..maybe I should invest in an actual alarm clock!

      The deal is on. I’ll work on blog and guest posts for the next 7 days! Thanks for the inspiration.

      Reply
    • April says

      July 18, 2013 at 9:38 am

      I loooooove getting my blog posts done ahead of time. It feels great! Good luck with your goal. Let us know how it works out!

      Reply
  6. Rori Jensen says

    July 17, 2013 at 12:34 pm

    DEAL April!

    I am frustrated because I am distracted by the computer first thing in the morning and then I work out and then take care of family/husband’s business items and theeeeeennnn….maybe I get to get in the studio. Your quote about professionals and hobbyists rang so true. If my business was a job I was going to, I would HAVE to be there, clock in, work, take a break and work some more. When will I get it in my head…this should be my job and, within reason, let everything else take a back seat. I am definitely a morning person and I am going to take this challenge for 7 days.

    Thanks April.

    Reply
    • April says

      July 18, 2013 at 9:40 am

      I think we all fall into bad habits of neglecting our creative work every once in a while! I’ve got my fingers and toes crossed that this helps you get out of that frustrated place.

      Reply
  7. Coral says

    July 17, 2013 at 3:43 pm

    I get up at 4am so I can get stuff done. I’m like you, still waking up as the laptop fires up. it’s how I find the time with a quiet house to write without daily life getting in the way. I blog, I edit photos, I do courses, I comment on others blogs. Because once I get home from my day job, I get caught up in house-y stuff. Cooking dinner, laundry, paying bills. And I just wanna sit and wind down. The stuff that should be fun, just feels like another chore on the to-do list. And it’s easy to brush it away until tomorrow. And tomorrow. And tomorrow. Hmmm… there goes the whole week.

    A friend of mine has been running a Commit To Being Creative hashtag on her blog and Instagram. So many of us (even the hobbyists) don’t seem to be able to find enough time in our day. So she’s asking for us to spend just 10 minutes on doing our creative ‘thing’. It’s amazing what you can get done in just 10 minutes. And off course, once you get started, you usually spend way more than 10 minutes doing it.

    Love Ashley’s comment – Do your most important work first. Love, love. That is one of my new favourite quotes.

    Reply
    • April says

      July 18, 2013 at 9:42 am

      Getting up at 4am would be super tough for me–I got up at 5am when I had a day job and it was hard, but completely worth it. I got so much done before work and it helped me stay positive all day.

      I love that challenge! Yes! Even spending 10 minutes a day creating is a great goal!

      Reply
  8. Bee Eastman says

    July 17, 2013 at 4:07 pm

    Deal, April. I’ve been trying to pick up inspiring ideas on how to get my business back on track without spending money I don’t have. So, I’ve turned my cell phone notifications to silence. And now, for you, I’m going to take that time and write my Newsletters. One each day so I’ll be ahead of the game. Thanks for the inspiration. ♥♥ Bee

    Reply
    • April says

      July 18, 2013 at 9:43 am

      That sounds like an awesome idea! There are soooooooo many things you can without spending money, and it sounds like you’re taking full advantage of them! Keep it up… 🙂

      Reply
  9. Krysta says

    July 17, 2013 at 6:08 pm

    Some of the trick about this for me, is that my creative work can be different all the time. So for this week, I’m going to focus on bookmaking.
    I like this idea already, that I’ve got a focus for every day of the week, and I don’t need to worry about what project I’m supposed to be doing – I waste a lot of time thinking about what I’m “supposed” to be doing.
    I’m excited for this challenge. Do we get to check in next week and talk about our success?

    Reply
    • April says

      July 18, 2013 at 9:45 am

      Me, too! I write, knit, make jewelry, sew, etc. I’ve found that out of all my creative pursuits, writing is the most important to me right now, so I’m focused on that each morning.

      I love the idea of picking something to work on each week when you have different types of creative work.

      Please check in and let us know how it’s going!!!

      Reply
  10. Kimberly says

    July 17, 2013 at 6:11 pm

    Deal! ; )

    Really serendipitous timing on this blog post, because I just posted something on my blog a couple days ago about how difficult it can be to make time for creative inspiration.

    I write, and the thing is, I do write everyday — but for clients. I needed to do something to get back to writing for me, so I started this practice called “The One Thing,” which I read about in one of the many marketing newsletters I get. The idea is to do “the one thing,” that most important thing, whatever it is to you, first thing everyday for at least 40 minutes, more if you can, until it becomes an ingrained habit. So I’ve been at it for a couple of weeks now and will keep it up to honor my “deal” here. : ) For the next week I’ll be writing my next 2-3 blog posts and 2-3 of my weekly newsletters.

    Like you, I find that writing first thing in the morning — before checking email, social media or any of it — makes me feel happy and productive, and the work actually gets done. Love
    that. : )

    Reply
    • April says

      July 18, 2013 at 9:47 am

      It can be difficult if you don’t plan it out in advance and make it as much of a priority as everything else. We all fall into that trap sometimes.

      I love the idea of “The One Thing.” I truly believe we’d all be happier if we spent a little time each day doing something we love–whether or not it has anything to do with our income.

      Reply
      • Kimberly says

        July 18, 2013 at 7:40 pm

        100% absolutely positively agree with you on that, April! : )

        Reply
  11. Terrie says

    July 17, 2013 at 7:10 pm

    Thanks for the good reminder. Time tested and true.

    Reply
    • April says

      July 18, 2013 at 9:47 am

      You’re welcome! 🙂

      Reply
  12. Tabassum says

    July 17, 2013 at 7:34 pm

    Deal! I’ll be working on my clothing designs first before tackling my other work projects. I keep saying that I want to get my collection out, but it won’t happen if I put it off. This will be a great way to start the day.

    As always, a great video April and with advice always coming in right when I need to hear it!

    Reply
    • April says

      July 18, 2013 at 9:47 am

      Awesome! Please let us know how it goes!

      Reply
  13. Carol says

    July 17, 2013 at 8:30 pm

    Great video, April. I have been getting stuck in the AM reading emails, answering tweets and blog postings, adding my 2 cents here and there. Then there’s breakfast/lunch, then working out THEN low and behold it is GASP, noon! And I haven’t touched what really matters my BUSINESS!
    You have given me the kick in the pants I need to start my morning different. You are riight, if this was a paying job I would be fired by now. But fortunate for me I am retired and that is part of the problem, no structure! Must do structure! Can’t wait till your next post. Always inspirational.

    Reply
    • April says

      July 18, 2013 at 9:49 am

      Thanks Carol! I completely understand! I got into that kind of habit, too. That’s why I stopped doing anything other than writing first thing in the morning. It has made such a huge difference–I bet it would for you, too!

      Reply
  14. Simmone Grinder says

    July 18, 2013 at 5:04 am

    I have been doing this for probably the last 7 years. At the time I started I was working a 9-5 job 6 days a week and had no time to do what I wanted to, so did it first thing in the morning and always got SOMETHING done. I still do this now, up at 5am, shower and tea and then work for an hour. Even if I have to do all this other stuff with my day I have at least done some work in the morning.

    Great advice!

    Reply
    • April says

      July 18, 2013 at 9:49 am

      Thank you so much for sharing, Simmone! It’s great to hear from someone who’s been doing this for so long and it’s working well. So inspiring!

      Reply
  15. Bev says

    July 18, 2013 at 8:47 am

    Sooooo guilty of going on my computer/smart phone first thing in the morning. Going to commit to making jewelry first thing in the morning for the next week…well, next 5 days because I leave for BlogHer (!!) next Thursday.

    Reply
    • April says

      July 18, 2013 at 9:50 am

      Awesome! Can’t wait to hear how it goes! Have soooooooooo much fun at BlogHer!

      Reply
  16. Dana says

    July 18, 2013 at 1:37 pm

    I love what you said about professionals working every day whether they feel like it or not while hobbyists wait for a creative spark. I SO needed to hear that right now! Thank you! I really need to become a morning person. I’m sure I could get so much done if I could work for an hour before leaving for the day job. I’m so tired when I get home from work that I often don’t have the energy to do anything else. I’d still be fresh if I did work in the morning. Thanks for the great advice! 🙂

    Reply
  17. Clemencia says

    July 19, 2013 at 6:52 am

    How funny, for some reason today I woke up thinking o.k. that’s it! I have to stop waisting time in the computer and get going with what I really like, scrapbooking combined with art, but I said to myself I’ll be in the computer for half hour and then go, yeah right! it doesn’t work, I tried it yesterday lol so… I’ll try what you said, it’s a deal, thank you so much for the awesome advise, I’l let you know how is it going a few day from now

    Reply
  18. Dawn says

    July 20, 2013 at 1:50 pm

    Deal! I’m going to try doing this once I’ve gotten my family up and running in the morning. Summer is tough because all the kids are home and needing attention. But I often find that once they’re all up and fed then they all go into their various shells for awhile (i.e.- electronic devices) and that’s when I usually get caught up on email and Facebook. But no more! I will take that opportunity to go up into my studio and create!! Thanks once again for bestowing your valuable and timely wisdom!!

    Reply
  19. Louise says

    July 21, 2013 at 7:28 am

    Hi April
    Starting from tomorrow I am going to get out of bed at 5.30 instead of 6.15 and do some sewing.
    It will be cold but I have warm clothes 🙂
    Then I will head off to the horrid day job, but knowing I have already made a few more small steps towards freedom….
    Thanks also for your email last week, I’ll let you know how I am going real soon.

    Reply
  20. Kristina says

    July 27, 2013 at 2:10 am

    April, thank you so much for these posts! I work very hard on balancing a demanding day job and a portrait business and a shop. Your posts have really helped me get more done simply by planning my day better. I used to think I would feel even more pressured by planning it out like that but it actually feels freeing and calming to know I have it all covered and there’s a time set out for everything (not that I’m at the stage yet where everything is perfectly planned yet…).
    This post on creative time struck a chord because it really is the thing that falls behind on the daily tasks so easily. I think I’ll try getting up even earlier to fit it all in. I’m a morning person anyway and if I wait until after my day job to do things I’ll be tired and start to resent them.

    Reply
  21. Kori says

    August 8, 2013 at 3:29 pm

    April – Thank you so much for this call to action! I’m a little late to the game, but wanted to announce what I plan on doing every morning when I get up (instead of lazing around with social media while I eat my breakfast…). I will sketch. And draw. And fail and succeed and be inspired and make the cutest flipping images to put on underwear ever. 🙂 Thank you!

    Reply
  22. Amanda Sue says

    August 11, 2013 at 3:47 pm

    I’m wanting to work really hard on writing, and learning to crochet better. I’ve got a few stitches down, but I’d definitely like to expand my knowledge. Or even pick up knitting better.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. This Week’s Challenge: Give Up a Distraction to Make More Time to Create | Blacksburg Belle says:
    July 30, 2013 at 2:45 pm

    […] weeks ago, I published a video about making more time for your creative work, and so many of you responded that you would take on the challenge I gave you to do a bit of […]

    Reply

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